diff --git a/aggregator.py b/aggregator.py
index 6002fe0..e6e1e28 100644
--- a/aggregator.py
+++ b/aggregator.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ CELEBRATION_DURATION = 5  # Seconds to show celebration after recovery
 # Emote variations with paired animations
 OPTIMAL_EMOTES = [
     ("( ^_^)", "breathing"),   # calm, content
-    ("( ᵔᴥᵔ)", "floating"),    # dreamy
+    ("( ˙▿˙)", "floating"),     # content
     ("(◕‿◕)", "bouncing"),     # cheerful
     ("( ・ω・)", "swaying"),    # curious
     ("( ˘▽˘)", "breathing"),   # cozy
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@ active_events = {}  # id -> {priority, message, timestamp, ttl}
 # State tracking for personality
 previous_priority = 4
 celebrating_until = 0
+blinking_until = 0
+blink_emote = None
+blink_animation = None
 last_emote_change = 0
 current_optimal_emote = OPTIMAL_EMOTES[0][0]
 current_optimal_animation = OPTIMAL_EMOTES[0][1]
@@ -63,7 +66,8 @@ SLEEP_ANIMATION = "sleeping"
 
 def get_current_state():
     """Determine current state based on active events."""
-    global previous_priority, celebrating_until, last_emote_change, current_optimal_emote, current_optimal_animation
+    global previous_priority, celebrating_until, blinking_until, blink_emote, blink_animation
+    global last_emote_change, current_optimal_emote, current_optimal_animation
 
     # Sleep mode overrides everything
     if is_sleeping:
@@ -107,15 +111,19 @@ def get_current_state():
         if now < celebrating_until:
             # Celebration mode
             emote, animation = CELEBRATION_EMOTE
+        elif now < blinking_until:
+            # Brief blink/wink (1-2 seconds)
+            emote = blink_emote
+            animation = blink_animation
         else:
-            # Rotate optimal emotes every 5 minutes, occasional idle expression
+            # Rotate optimal emotes every 5 minutes
             if now - last_emote_change > 300:
                 last_emote_change = now
-                # 15% chance of an idle expression (wink/blink)
+                current_optimal_emote, current_optimal_animation = random.choice(OPTIMAL_EMOTES)
+                # 15% chance of a brief blink/wink
                 if random.random() < 0.15:
-                    current_optimal_emote, current_optimal_animation = random.choice(IDLE_EMOTES)
-                else:
-                    current_optimal_emote, current_optimal_animation = random.choice(OPTIMAL_EMOTES)
+                    blink_emote, blink_animation = random.choice(IDLE_EMOTES)
+                    blinking_until = now + random.uniform(1, 2)
             emote = current_optimal_emote
             animation = current_optimal_animation