diff --git a/term.py b/term.py
index ce657ae..0eea4b0 100755
--- a/term.py
+++ b/term.py
@@ -7,6 +7,30 @@ import sys
 import struct
 import termios
 
+# return dimensions (cols x rows)
+def load_dimensions():
+    # default to 80x24
+    dims = 80, 24
+
+    if not os.path.exists('.theme'):
+        return dims
+
+    try:
+        with open('.theme', 'rb') as f:
+            data = f.read(8)
+            if len(data) < 8:
+                return dims
+            vals = struct.unpack('HHHBB', data)
+            x, y = int(vals[3]), int(vals[4])
+            if x < 80 or y < 24 or x > 200 or y > 100:
+                print('invalid width/height: %d/%d' % (x, y))
+                sys.exit(1)
+            dims = x, y
+    except Exception(e):
+        print('error in .theme file: %s' % e)
+        sys.exit(1)
+    return dims
+
 def main():
 
     # check usage
@@ -17,6 +41,9 @@ def main():
         print('  ROM: the rom file to launch')
         sys.exit(1)
 
+    # either detect dimensions from theme or use 80x24
+    cols, rows = load_dimensions()
+
     # path to rom to run
     rom = args[0]
 
@@ -30,8 +57,6 @@ def main():
         os.execvpe('bash', ['bash'], env)
     else:
         # set the terminal size
-        ###cols, rows = 79, 40
-        cols, rows = 80, 24
         size = struct.pack("HHHH", rows, cols, 8, 12)
         fcntl.ioctl(fd, termios.TIOCSWINSZ, size)
 
diff --git a/term.tal b/term.tal
index c0f97c1..51cbeaf 100644
--- a/term.tal
+++ b/term.tal
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 (   b. on insert )
 (   c. etc. )
 ( 6. add more ansi control seqs )
-( 7. stop hard coding terminal size in both term.py and term.tal )
 ( 8. key repeat - not possible in general though )
 ( 9. support shift+arrow and alt+arrow )
 ( 10. crawl has screen-clearing issues )
@@ -130,13 +129,8 @@
     ( 80 cols x 24 rows + 1 col for padding )
     #0018 .rows STZ2
     #0051 .cols STZ2
-
-    ( set col-bytes, frequently needed )
-    .cols LDZ2 DUP2 ADD2 .col-bytes STZ2
-
-    ( set max row/col )
-    .rows LDZ2 #0001 SUB2 .max-y STZ2
-    .cols LDZ2 #0001 SUB2 .max-x STZ2
+(    #0024 .rows STZ2
+    #005b .cols STZ2 )
 
     ( set initial cursor )
     #0000 .cur-x STZ2
@@ -148,16 +142,15 @@
     ( confirm no buttons pressed yet )
     #00 .lastkey STZ
 
-    ( set screen height/width based on rows/cols )
-    .cols LDZ2 #30 SFT2 ( width ) #0010 ADD2 .Screen/w DEO2
-    .rows LDZ2 #000c MUL2 ( height ) #0010 ADD2 .Screen/h DEO2
-
     ( set colors )
     #07bf .System/r DEO2
     #07bf .System/g DEO2
     #07bf .System/b DEO2
+(    load-theme-old )
     load-theme
 
+    update-dimensions
+
     ( set starting tint: reverse=0, bg=0, fg=2 )
     #02 .attr STZ
     update-tint
@@ -194,9 +187,37 @@
     #01 .File1/append DEO
     BRK
 
+@update-dimensions ( -> )
+    ( set col-bytes, frequently needed )
+    .cols LDZ2 DUP2 ADD2 .col-bytes STZ2
+
+    ( set max row/col )
+    .rows LDZ2 #0001 SUB2 .max-y STZ2
+    .cols LDZ2 #0001 SUB2 .max-x STZ2
+
+    ( set screen height/width based on rows/cols )
+    .cols LDZ2 #30 SFT2 ( width ) #0010 ADD2 .Screen/w DEO2
+    .rows LDZ2 #000c MUL2 ( height ) #0010 ADD2 .Screen/h DEO2
+    JMP2r
+
 @shell "bash 00 "-i 00 00
 
 @load-theme ( -> )
+    ;&path .File1/name DEO2
+    #0006 .File1/len DEO2
+    ;&r .File1/r DEO2
+    .File1/ok DEI2 ORA #01 JCN JMP2r
+    ,&r LDR2 .System/r DEO2
+    ,&g LDR2 .System/g DEO2
+    ,&b LDR2 .System/b DEO2
+    #0002 .File1/len DEO2
+    ;&x .File1/r DEO2
+    .File1/ok DEI2 ORA #01 JCN JMP2r
+    #00 ,&x LDR INC2 ( hack ) .cols STZ2
+    #00 ,&y LDR .rows STZ2
+    JMP2r [ &path ".theme $1 &r $2 &g $2 &b $2 &x $1 &y $1 ]
+
+@load-theme-old ( -> )
     ;&path .File1/name DEO2
     #0002 .File1/len DEO2
     ;&r .File1/r DEO2
@@ -712,16 +733,13 @@
 @exec1 ( addr* -> )
     STH2 #0001 read-arg-1 STH2r JSR2 BRK
 
-( FIXME: hardcoded terminal size )
 @exec-status
     POP #0000 read-arg-1 #0006 NEQ2 ,&done
     #1b .Console/w DEO
     LIT "[ .Console/w DEO
-    LIT "2 .Console/w DEO
-    LIT "4 .Console/w DEO
+    .cur-y LDZ2 INC2 emit-dec2
     LIT "; .Console/w DEO
-    LIT "8 .Console/w DEO
-    LIT "0 .Console/w DEO
+    .cur-x LDZ2 INC2 emit-dec2
     LIT "R .Console/w DEO
     &done BRK
 
@@ -1110,6 +1128,18 @@
     INCr STHkr ?&loop
     POPr POP2 POP2 JMP2r
 
+( emit a short as a decimal )
+@emit-dec2 ( n* -> )
+    LITr 00 ( n [0] )
+    &read ( n [k] )
+        #000a DIV2k STH2k MUL2 SUB2 STH2r INCr ( n%10 n/10 [k+1] )
+        DUP2 ORA ,&read JCN
+    POP2 ( top element was 0000 )
+    &write ( n0 n1 ... nk [k+1] )
+        NIP #30 ADD .Console/w DEO LITr 01 SUBr ( n0 ... n{k-1} [k] )
+        STHkr ,&write JCN
+    POPr JMP2r
+
 @debug-log "debug_term.log 00
 @scratch $40 &pos $2