diff --git a/src/utils.scm b/src/utils.scm
index 911f7f1..4684f90 100644
--- a/src/utils.scm
+++ b/src/utils.scm
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@
 	      '()
 	      lists))
 
+(define (list-diff list1 list2)
+  ;; returns every member in list2 that is not in list1
+  (filter (lambda (e)
+	    (not (member e list1)))
+	  list2))
+
 ;; *** cml utilities *************************************************
 
 (define (select* . list) (select list))
@@ -39,8 +45,8 @@
 		  (mdisplay "condition in " id ":\n  " condition "\n")
 		  (punt))
 		(lambda ()
-		  (fun (lambda () (sync-point-release sp)))
-		  (mdisplay "thread " id " returned\n")
+		  (let ((res (fun (lambda () (sync-point-release sp)))))
+		    (mdisplay "thread " id " returned: " res "\n"))
 		  ))))
       (sync-point-wait sp))))
 
@@ -53,13 +59,14 @@
 ;; *** option utilities **********************************************
 
 (define-record-type options :options
-  (make-options dpy colormap option-alist value-alist type-alist)
+  (make-options dpy colormap option-alist value-alist type-alist default-alist)
   options?
   (dpy options:dpy)
   (colormap options:colormap)
   (option-alist options:option-alist set-options:option-alist!)
   (value-alist options:value-alist set-options:value-alist!)
-  (type-alist options:type-alist set-options:type-alist!))
+  (type-alist options:type-alist set-options:type-alist!)
+  (default-alist options:default-alist))
 
 (define (create-options dpy colormap spec options)
   (let ((option-alist (map (lambda (s)
@@ -70,12 +77,16 @@
 	(value-alist '())
 	(type-alist (map (lambda (s)
 			   (cons (first s) (second s)))
-			 spec)))
+			 spec))
+	(default-alist (map (lambda (s)
+			      (cons (first s) (third s)))
+			    spec)))
     (for-each (lambda (name.option name.type)
 		(allocate-option dpy colormap (car name.option)
 				 (cdr name.type) (cdr name.option)))
 	      option-alist type-alist)
-    (make-options dpy colormap option-alist value-alist type-alist)))
+    (make-options dpy colormap option-alist value-alist type-alist
+		  default-alist)))
 
 ;; if the colormap gets freed, then the colors don't have to
 (define (free-options options free-colors?)
@@ -130,10 +141,14 @@
 (define (get-options options)
   (options:option-alist options))
 
+(define (get-options-diff options)
+  (list-diff (options:default-alist options)
+	     (options:option-alist options)))
+
 (define-enumerated-type option-type :option-type
   option-type? option-types option-type-name option-type-index
   (int number inexact exact string symbol font color colors
-       boolean symbol-list keys))
+       boolean symbol-list keys keys-list sexp))
 
 (define-syntax define-options-spec
   (syntax-rules
@@ -177,6 +192,13 @@
      ((eq? type (option-type keys))
       (let ((keys (string->keys dpy def)))
 	(check keys (lambda (x) x))))
+     ((eq? type (option-type keys-list))
+      (and (check def list?)
+	   (map (lambda (s) (allocate-option dpy colormap name
+					     (option-type keys) s))
+		def)))
+     ((eq? type (option-type sexp))
+      def)
      (else (error "option type not implemented" name type)))))
 
 ;; *** keys utilities ************************************************
@@ -261,7 +283,7 @@
 (define (take-focus dpy window time)
   ;; implements the TAKE_FOCUS protocol
   (let* ((protocols (get-wm-protocols dpy window))
-	 (wm-take-focus (intern-atom dpy "WM_TAKE_FOCUS" #t))
+	 (wm-take-focus (intern-atom dpy "WM_TAKE_FOCUS" #f))
 	 (wm-hints (get-wm-hints dpy window))
 	 (t (and wm-hints (assq (wm-hint input?) wm-hints)))
 	 (input? (if t (cdr t) #t)))
@@ -286,13 +308,13 @@
   (send-event dpy window #f (event-mask)
 	      (create-client-message-event
 	       (event-type client-message) 0 #t dpy window
-	       (make-property (intern-atom dpy "WM_PROTOCOLS" #t)
+	       (make-property (intern-atom dpy "WM_PROTOCOLS" #f)
 			      (property-format long)
 			      (list atom time)))))
 
 (define (delete-window dpy window time)
   (let* ((protocols (get-wm-protocols dpy window))
-	 (wm-delete-window (intern-atom dpy "WM_DELETE_WINDOW" #t)))
+	 (wm-delete-window (intern-atom dpy "WM_DELETE_WINDOW" #f)))
     (if (member wm-delete-window protocols)
 	(send-protocol-message dpy window wm-delete-window time)
 	(destroy-window dpy window))))
@@ -493,3 +515,25 @@
      thunk
      (lambda ()
        (display-select-input dpy window before)))))
+
+(define (all-window-colormaps dpy window)
+  (let ((wins (cons window
+		    (let* ((a (intern-atom dpy "WM_COLORMAP_WINDOWS" #f))
+			   (t (intern-atom dpy "WINDOW" #f))
+			   (p (get-full-window-property dpy window a #f t)))
+		      (if (and p (property:data p))
+			  (property:data p)
+			  '())))))
+    (map (lambda (win)
+	   (window-attribute:colormap (get-window-attributes dpy win)))
+	 wins)))
+
+(define (install-colormaps dpy window)
+  (for-each (lambda (c)
+	      (install-colormap dpy c))
+	    (all-window-colormaps dpy window)))
+
+(define (uninstall-colormaps dpy window)
+  (for-each (lambda (c)
+	      (uninstall-colormap dpy c))
+	    (all-window-colormaps dpy window)))