diff --git a/application.py b/application.py
index dd279f4..eb977ec 100755
--- a/application.py
+++ b/application.py
@@ -141,10 +141,13 @@ class Application(object):
             self.methods[obj.name] = obj
 
         # window/slot height/width
-        height = self.y - 2
-        #width  = self.x - 1
+        height = self.y - 1
         width  = self.x
 
+        # buffer list stuff
+        self.bufferlist  = bufferlist.BufferList(height, width)
+        self.active_slot = 0
+
         # run user custom code here
         self.rcerror = None
         self.loadrc()
@@ -158,9 +161,6 @@ class Application(object):
         if self.rcerror:
             buffers.insert(0, buffer.DataBuffer('*RcError*', self.rcerror))
 
-        self.bufferlist = bufferlist.BufferList(height, width)
-        self.active_slot = 0
-
         # build windows for our buffers
         for b in buffers:
             if b.name() == '*Console*':
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ class Application(object):
             else:
                 window.Window(b, self, mode_name=init_mode)
             self.bufferlist.add_buffer(b)
-        self.bufferlist.set_slot(0, buffers[0])
+        self.bufferlist.set_slot(self.active_slot, buffers[0])
 
         # see if the user has requested that we go to a particular line
         if jump_to_line:
@@ -308,8 +308,8 @@ class Application(object):
         self.mini_prompt = prompt
         self.mini_buffer = minibuffer.MiniBuffer(callback, method, tabber, modename)
         try:
-            window.Window(self.mini_buffer, self, height=1,
-                           width=self.x-1-len(self.mini_prompt)-1)
+            w = self.x - 1 - len(self.mini_prompt) - 1
+            window.Window(self.mini_buffer, self, height=1, width=w)
             self.mini_active = True
         except minibuffer.MiniBufferError:
             self.mini_buffer = None
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ class Application(object):
         n = len(self.bufferlist.slots)
         assert n > 0
         x = self.x - 1
-        y_sum = self.y - 1 - n
+        y_sum = self.y - n
         self.bufferlist.resize(y_sum, x)
 
     # exit
@@ -816,8 +816,7 @@ class Application(object):
         # XYZ: we should actually use more of the 'state' variables
         format = "%s  %-18s  (%s)--L%d--C%d--%s"
         status = format % (modflag, name, w.mode.name(), cursor.y+1, cursor.x+1, perc)
-        status = status.ljust(slot.width + 1)[:slot.width + 1]
-
+        status = status.ljust(slot.width)[:slot.width]
         self.win.addstr(slot.height + slot.y_offset, 0, status, curses.A_REVERSE)
 
     # input bar drawing
diff --git a/bufferlist.py b/bufferlist.py
index 6d40a6c..998b47b 100644
--- a/bufferlist.py
+++ b/bufferlist.py
@@ -26,61 +26,6 @@ class Slot(object):
         else:
             return None
 
-class Box(object):
-    boxtype = 'box'
-    def _set_hwyx(self, h, w, y, x):
-        self.height   = h
-        self.width    = w
-        self.y_offset = y
-        self.x_offset = x
-    def __init__(self, h, w, y, x):
-        self._set_hwyx(h, w, y, x)
-    def resize(self, h, w, y, x):
-        self._set_hwyx(h, w, y, x)
-
-class VBoxes(Box):
-    boxtype = 'vboxes'
-    def __init__(self, h, w, y, x):
-        Box.__init__(self, h, w, y, x)
-        self.boxes = [Box(h, w, y, x)]
-
-    def rescale(self):
-        n = len(self.boxes)
-
-        # first let's divide the new space based on old proportions
-        oldtotal = sum([box.height for box in self.boxes])
-        newtotal = self.height - len(self.boxes) + 1
-        heights = [None] * n
-        for i in range(0, n):
-            heights[i] = int(float(newtotal * self.boxes[i]) / oldtotal)
-
-        # fix any rounding errors
-        _sum = sum([h for h in heights])
-        if _sum < total:
-            adder = 1
-        else:
-            adder = -1
-        for i in range(0, abs(total - _sum)):
-            heights[i % n] += adder
-
-        # now do it!
-        offset = self.y_offset
-        for i in range(0, n):
-            self.boxes[i].resize(heights[i], self.width, offset, self.x_offset)
-            offset += heights[i] + 1
-
-    def resize(self, height, width, y_offset, x_offset):
-        self.height   = height
-        self.width    = width
-        self.y_offset = y_offset
-        self.x_offset = x_offset
-        self.rescale()
-
-    def split_box(self, n):
-        for box in boxes:
-            b.height = 0
-        self.boxes.extend(boxes)
-
 class BufferList(object):
     def __init__(self, height, width, buffers=()):
         self.height         = height
@@ -89,13 +34,14 @@ class BufferList(object):
         self.buffer_names   = {}
         self.hidden_buffers = []
         self.slots          = []
+        self.mini_height    = 1
 
         self.add_slot()
         self.fit_slots()
         for b in buffers:
             self.add_buffer(b)
     def fit_slots(self):
-        total = self.height - len(self.slots) + 1
+        total = self.height - len(self.slots) + 1 - self.mini_height
         heights = [total / len(self.slots)] * len(self.slots)
         for i in range(0, total % len(self.slots)):
             heights[i] += 1