diff --git a/stix/kernel/Collect.st b/stix/kernel/Collect.st
index 8363dcb..8c2c9d2 100644
--- a/stix/kernel/Collect.st
+++ b/stix/kernel/Collect.st
@@ -55,10 +55,10 @@
 	{
 		## concatenate two strings.
 ## TOOD: make this a primitive for performance.
-		| newsize newstr self_ubound|
+		| newsize newstr self_ubound |
 		newsize := self basicSize + aString basicSize.
 		##newstr := self class basicNew: newsize.
-		newstr := String basicNew: newsize.  ## TODO: redefine , for symbol... it's a work arouind... symbols are not contacated to a symbol at this moment.
+		newstr := String basicNew: newsize.  ## TODO: redefine , for symbol... it's a work arouind... symbols are not concatenated to a symbol at this moment.
 		self_ubound := self ubound.
 		0 to: self_ubound do: [:i | newstr at: i put: (self at: i)].
 		0 to: (aString ubound) do: [:i | newstr at: (i + self_ubound + 1) put: (aString at: i)].
diff --git a/stix/kernel/Context.st b/stix/kernel/Context.st
index 9a073bd..9e87b16 100644
--- a/stix/kernel/Context.st
+++ b/stix/kernel/Context.st
@@ -328,13 +328,15 @@ thisContext isExceptionHandlerContext dump.
 
 	#method ensure: aBlock
 	{
-
 ## TODO: ensure that the ensured block is executed after exception handler...
-		| value |
-		value := self on: Exception do: [:ex | aBlock value. ex pass].
-		## value := self valueAndResumeOnUnwind.
+		| v |
+		v := self on: Exception do: [:ex | 
+			aBlock value.
+			ex pass
+		].
+
 		aBlock value.
-		^value
+		^v
 	}
 
 	#method ifCurtailed: aBlock
@@ -424,8 +426,21 @@ thisContext isExceptionHandlerContext dump.
   	#method handleException
 	{
 		self.handlerContext notNil
-			ifTrue: [ 
-				Processor return: (self.handlerBlock value: self) to: (self.handlerContext sender)
+			ifTrue: [
+##'RETURNING TO....' dump.
+##self.handlerContext  dump.
+##self.handlerContext sender dump.
+##' ............' dump.
+
+				## arrange to execute the hander block after having returned 
+				## to the sender of the exception handler context.
+				## if handler block is evaluated before returning, an
+				## exception raised in the handler block causes a kind of
+				## a recursive call to here.
+				##Processor return: (self.handlerBlock value: self) to: (self.handlerContext sender)
+				## so use a different primitive method that evaluate the block
+				## after having returned to the given context.
+				Processor returnTo: (self.handlerContext sender) andEval: (self.handlerBlock) with: self.
 			]
 			ifFalse: [ 
 				('### EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED #### ', self class name, ' - ', self messageText) dump.
@@ -434,13 +449,6 @@ thisContext isExceptionHandlerContext dump.
 			].
 	}
 
-##	#method handlerContext
-##	{
-##		(self.handlerContext notNil) ifTrue: [ ^self.handlerContext ].
-##		self findHandlerContextStartingFrom: self.signalContext.
-##		^self.handlerContext.
-##	}
-
 	#method findHandlerContextStartingFrom: aContext
 	{
 		## Find exception handling context starting from a given context
@@ -448,19 +456,21 @@ thisContext isExceptionHandlerContext dump.
 
 		ctx := aContext.
 		[ ctx notNil ] whileTrue: [
-				##(ctx handles: self) ifTrue: [ ^ ctx ].
-				(ctx isExceptionHandlerContext) ifTrue: [
-					| blk |
-					blk := ctx findExceptionHandlerBlock: (self class).
-					(blk notNil) ifTrue: [ 
-						self.handlerBlock := blk. 
-						self.handlerContext := ctx. 
-						^ctx 
-					].
+##ctx dump.
+			##(ctx handles: self) ifTrue: [ ^ ctx ].
+			(ctx isExceptionHandlerContext) ifTrue: [
+				| blk |
+				blk := ctx findExceptionHandlerBlock: (self class).
+				(blk notNil) ifTrue: [ 
+					self.handlerBlock := blk. 
+					self.handlerContext := ctx. 
+##'-------------' dump.
+					^ctx 
 				].
-				ctx := ctx sender
 			].
-
+			ctx := ctx sender
+		].
+##'-------------' dump.
 		## no handler is found
 		self.handlerBlock := nil.
 		self.handlerContext := nil.
diff --git a/stix/kernel/Process.st b/stix/kernel/Process.st
index 9092dce..055bb13 100644
--- a/stix/kernel/Process.st
+++ b/stix/kernel/Process.st
@@ -401,6 +401,12 @@
 		self primitiveFailed.
 	}
 
+	#method returnTo: anObject andEval: aBlock with: arg
+	{
+		<primitive: #_processor_return_to_and_eval>
+		self primitiveFailed.
+	}
+
 	#method forceContext: aContext
 	{
 		<primitive: #_processor_force_context>
diff --git a/stix/kernel/Stix.st b/stix/kernel/Stix.st
index a5bb3b4..05c1a84 100644
--- a/stix/kernel/Stix.st
+++ b/stix/kernel/Stix.st
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@
 
 #class Character(Magnitude)
 {
+	## #method basicSize
+	## {
+	## 	^0
+	## }
 }
 
 #class Number(Magnitude)
@@ -153,7 +157,7 @@
 
 	#method asString
 	{
-		self printStringRadix: 10
+		^self printStringRadix: 10
 	}
 
 	#method printStringRadix: aNumber
@@ -213,6 +217,10 @@
 
 #class SmallInteger(Integer)
 {
+	## #method basicSize
+	## {
+	## 	^0
+	## }
 }
 
 #class(#liword) LargeInteger(Integer)
diff --git a/stix/kernel/test-010.st b/stix/kernel/test-010.st
index fcce120..86744dd 100644
--- a/stix/kernel/test-010.st
+++ b/stix/kernel/test-010.st
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
 	}
 
 	
-	#method(#class) main
+	#method(#class) main987
 	{
 		|t1 t2 s1 s2 s3|
 
@@ -110,20 +110,43 @@
 		s1 wait.
 "
 
-
-
-"
+	}
+	
+	#method(#class) main
+	{
 		| v1 |
 		'START OF MAIN' dump.
 		##[1 xxx] ifCurtailed: ['XXXXXXXX CURTAILED XXXXXXXXX' dump].
 		##['ENSURE TEST' dump] ensure: ['XXXXXXXXX ENSURE XXXXXXXXXXXXXx' dump].
 
-		v1 := [ ['kkk' dump.] ensure: ['XXXXXXXXX ENSURE XXXXXXXXXXXXXx' dump. 30] ] on: Exception do: [:ex | 'EXCEPTION OUTSIDE ENSURE...' dump.  ].
-		v1 dump.
+		##v1 := [ ['kkk' dump.] ensure: ['XXXXXXXXX ENSURE XXXXXXXXXXXXXx' dump. 30] ] on: Exception do: [:ex | 'EXCEPTION OUTSIDE ENSURE...' dump.  ].
+		##v1 dump.
 
-		'END OF MAIN' dump."
+
+		##[ Exception signal: 'simulated error' ] on: Exception do: [:ex | 'CAUGHT...' dump. Exception signal: 'jjjjjjj' ].
+		
+		"[
+				[ Exception signal: 'simulated error' ] ensure: ['ensure 1' dump ].
+		] on: Exception do: [:ex | ('EXCETION - ' , ex messageText) dump. Exception signal: 'qqq'. ]."
+
+		"[1 xxx] ifCurtailed: ['XXXXXXXX CURTAILED XXXXXXXXX' dump. Exception signal: 'jjjj']."
+
+		v1 := [
+			| k |
+			k := 99.
+			[
+				[ Exception signal: 'simulated error' ] ensure: [('ensure 1 ', (k asString)) dump ].
+			] ensure: ['ensure 2' dump ].
+		] on: Exception do: [:ex | 
+			('EXCETION - ' , ex messageText) dump.
+			## Exception signal: 'qqq'.
+		].
+
+		'--------------------------------' dump.
+		v1 dump.
+		'END OF MAIN' dump.
 	}
-	
+
 	#method(#class) main22222
 	{
 		|t1 t2 s1 s2 s3|
diff --git a/stix/kernel/test-011.st b/stix/kernel/test-011.st
index 293b9d6..67cbaa1 100644
--- a/stix/kernel/test-011.st
+++ b/stix/kernel/test-011.st
@@ -40,11 +40,19 @@
 	#method(#class) main2
 	{
 		| k |
+		'BEGINNING OF main2' dump.
 		k := ['this is test-011' dump. Exception signal: 'main2 screwed...'. 8888 dump. ] 
-			on: Exception do: [ :ex | 'Exception occurred' dump.  ex messageText dump. 'Getting back to....' dump. "ex return: 9999." ex pass. 'AFTER RETURN' dump. ].
+			on: Exception do: [ :ex | 
+				'Exception occurred' dump.  
+				ex messageText dump.
+				'Getting back to....' dump.
+				"ex return: 9999."
+				ex pass.
+				'AFTER RETURN' dump. 
+			].
 
 		k dump.
-		'END OF test-011' dump.
+		'END OF main2' dump.
 	}
 
 	#method(#class) raise_exception
@@ -138,33 +146,45 @@
 		## exception is raised in a new process. it can't be captured
 		## by an exception handler of a calling process.
 		## exception handling must not cross the process boundary.
+		'BEGINNING OF test11' dump.
 		[ 
 			|p | 
-			p := [Exception signal: 'Sample Exception' ] newProcess.
+			p := [ Exception signal: 'Exception in a new process of test11'.  ] newProcess.
 			'JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ' dump.
 			p resume.
 		] on: Exception do: [:ex | 'EXCEPTION ----------' dump. ex messageText dump ].
+		'END OF test11' dump.
 	}
 
 	#method(#class) test12
 	{
+		'BEGINNING OF test12' dump.
 		[ 
 			|p | 
 			p := [ 
-				[ Exception signal: 'Sample Exception' ] on: Exception do: [:ex | 'EXCEPTION CAUGHT...' dump. ex messageText dump. ]
+				[ Exception signal: 'Exception in a new process of test12' ] 
+					on: Exception do: [:ex | 
+						('EXCEPTION CAUGHT...in test12 ==> ', (ex messageText)) dump.
+					]
 			] newProcess.
 			'JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ' dump.
 			p resume.
 		] on: Exception do: [:ex | 'EXCEPTION ----------' dump. ex messageText dump ].
+		'END OF test12' dump.
 	}
 
-	
 	#method(#class) main
 	{
 
 		'>>>>> BEGINNING OF MAIN' dump.
 
-	##	[ self main2 ] on: Exception do: [ :ex | 'EXCEPTION CAUGHT IN MAIN....' dump. ex messageText dump. "ex pass." ex resume. ].
+		[ self main2 ] on: Exception do: [ :ex | 
+			'EXCEPTION CAUGHT IN MAIN....' dump. 
+			ex messageText dump. 
+			"ex pass." 
+			'Returning back to where the exception has signalled in main2...' dump.
+			ex resume. 
+		].
 
 		'##############################' dump.
 	##	self test3.
@@ -173,7 +193,7 @@
 	##	self test5.
 		self test11.
 	##	self test12.
-		##100 timesRepeat: ['>>>>> END OF MAIN' dump].
+	##	100 timesRepeat: ['>>>>> END OF MAIN' dump].
 
 
 "(Exception isKindOf: Apex) dump.
diff --git a/stix/lib/exec.c b/stix/lib/exec.c
index 86f739f..723bccd 100644
--- a/stix/lib/exec.c
+++ b/stix/lib/exec.c
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@
 
 
 #if defined(STIX_DEBUG_VM_EXEC)
-#	define LOG_MASK_INST (STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_MNEMONIC)
+#	define LOG_MASK_INST (STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_MNEMONIC)
 
 #	define LOG_INST_0(stix,fmt) STIX_LOG0(stix, LOG_MASK_INST, "\t" fmt "\n")
 #	define LOG_INST_1(stix,fmt,a1) STIX_LOG1(stix, LOG_MASK_INST, "\t" fmt "\n",a1)
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ static stix_oop_process_t make_process (stix_t* stix, stix_oop_context_t c)
 	STIX_ASSERT ((stix_oop_t)c->sender == stix->_nil);
 
 #if defined(STIX_DEBUG_VM_PROCESSOR)
-	STIX_LOG2 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Processor - made process %O of size %zd\n", proc, STIX_OBJ_GET_SIZE(proc));
+	STIX_LOG2 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Processor - made process %O of size %zd\n", proc, STIX_OBJ_GET_SIZE(proc));
 #endif
 	return proc;
 }
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ static stix_oop_process_t make_process (stix_t* stix, stix_oop_context_t c)
 static STIX_INLINE void sleep_active_process (stix_t* stix, int state)
 {
 #if defined(STIX_DEBUG_VM_PROCESSOR)
-	STIX_LOG3 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Processor - put process %O context %O ip=%zd to sleep\n", stix->processor->active, stix->active_context, stix->ip);
+	STIX_LOG3 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Processor - put process %O context %O ip=%zd to sleep\n", stix->processor->active, stix->active_context, stix->ip);
 #endif
 
 #if defined(STIX_USE_PROCSTK)
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ static STIX_INLINE void wake_new_process (stix_t* stix, stix_oop_process_t proc)
 	SWITCH_ACTIVE_CONTEXT (stix, proc->current_context);
 
 #if defined(STIX_DEBUG_VM_PROCESSOR)
-	STIX_LOG3 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Processor - woke up process %O context %O ip=%zd\n", stix->processor->active, stix->active_context, stix->ip);
+	STIX_LOG3 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Processor - woke up process %O context %O ip=%zd\n", stix->processor->active, stix->active_context, stix->ip);
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ static STIX_INLINE int chain_into_processor (stix_t* stix, stix_oop_process_t pr
 	if (tally >= STIX_SMOOI_MAX)
 	{
 #if defined(STIX_DEBUG_VM_PROCESSOR)
-		STIX_LOG0 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_FATAL, "Processor - too many process\n");
+		STIX_LOG0 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_FATAL, "Processor - too many process\n");
 #endif
 		stix->errnum = STIX_EPFULL;
 		return -1;
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ static void terminate_process (stix_t* stix, stix_oop_process_t proc)
 		/* RUNNING/RUNNABLE ---> TERMINATED */
 
 	#if defined(STIX_DEBUG_VM_PROCESSOR)
-		STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Processor - process %O RUNNING/RUNNABLE->TERMINATED\n", proc);
+		STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Processor - process %O RUNNING/RUNNABLE->TERMINATED\n", proc);
 	#endif
 
 		if (proc == stix->processor->active)
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ static void terminate_process (stix_t* stix, stix_oop_process_t proc)
 			{
 				/* no runnable process after termination */
 				STIX_ASSERT (stix->processor->active == stix->nil_process);
-				STIX_LOG0 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "No runnable process after process termination\n");
+				STIX_LOG0 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "No runnable process after process termination\n");
 			}
 			else
 			{
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ static void terminate_process (stix_t* stix, stix_oop_process_t proc)
 	{
 		/* SUSPENDED ---> TERMINATED */
 	#if defined(STIX_DEBUG_VM_PROCESSOR)
-		STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Processor - process %O SUSPENDED->TERMINATED\n", proc);
+		STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Processor - process %O SUSPENDED->TERMINATED\n", proc);
 	#endif
 
 		proc->state = STIX_SMOOI_TO_OOP(PROC_STATE_TERMINATED);
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ static void resume_process (stix_t* stix, stix_oop_process_t proc)
 		STIX_ASSERT ((stix_oop_t)proc->next == stix->_nil);
 
 	#if defined(STIX_DEBUG_VM_PROCESSOR)
-		STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Processor - process %O SUSPENDED->RUNNING\n", proc);
+		STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Processor - process %O SUSPENDED->RUNNING\n", proc);
 	#endif
 
 		chain_into_processor (stix, proc); /* TODO: error check */
@@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ static void suspend_process (stix_t* stix, stix_oop_process_t proc)
 		/* RUNNING/RUNNABLE ---> SUSPENDED */
 
 	#if defined(STIX_DEBUG_VM_PROCESSOR)
-		STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Processor - process %O RUNNING/RUNNABLE->SUSPENDED\n", proc);
+		STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Processor - process %O RUNNING/RUNNABLE->SUSPENDED\n", proc);
 	#endif
 
 		if (proc == stix->processor->active)
@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ static void yield_process (stix_t* stix, stix_oop_process_t proc)
 		if (nrp != proc) 
 		{
 		#if defined(STIX_DEBUG_VM_PROCESSOR)
-			STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Processor - process %O RUNNING->RUNNABLE\n", proc);
+			STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Processor - process %O RUNNING->RUNNABLE\n", proc);
 		#endif
 			switch_to_process (stix, nrp, PROC_STATE_RUNNABLE);
 		}
@@ -1043,7 +1043,7 @@ static stix_oop_method_t find_method (stix_t* stix, stix_oop_t receiver, const s
 /* TODO: implement method lookup cache */
 
 #if defined(STIX_DEBUG_VM_METHOD_LOOKUP)
-	STIX_LOG3 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Method lookup - Finding method %.*S for %O in ", message->len, message->ptr, receiver);
+	STIX_LOG3 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Method lookup - Finding method %.*S for %O in ", message->len, message->ptr, receiver);
 #endif
 
 	cls = (stix_oop_class_t)STIX_CLASSOF(stix, receiver);
@@ -1053,7 +1053,7 @@ static stix_oop_method_t find_method (stix_t* stix, stix_oop_t receiver, const s
 		c = receiver; 
 		dic_no = STIX_CLASS_MTHDIC_CLASS;
 #if defined(STIX_DEBUG_VM_METHOD_LOOKUP)
-	STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Method lookup - class method dictionary of %O\n", c);
+	STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Method lookup - class method dictionary of %O\n", c);
 #endif
 	}
 	else
@@ -1061,7 +1061,7 @@ static stix_oop_method_t find_method (stix_t* stix, stix_oop_t receiver, const s
 		c = (stix_oop_t)cls;
 		dic_no = STIX_CLASS_MTHDIC_INSTANCE;
 #if defined(STIX_DEBUG_VM_METHOD_LOOKUP)
-	STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Method lookup - instance method dictionary of %O\n", c);
+	STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "Method lookup - instance method dictionary of %O\n", c);
 #endif
 	}
 
@@ -1379,16 +1379,25 @@ static int prim_shallow_copy (stix_t* stix, stix_ooi_t nargs)
 
 static int prim_basic_size (stix_t* stix, stix_ooi_t nargs)
 {
+	/* return the number of indexable fields */
+
 	stix_oop_t rcv, sz;
 
 	STIX_ASSERT (nargs == 0);
 
 	rcv = STIX_STACK_GETTOP(stix);
 
-	sz = stix_oowtoint (stix, STIX_OBJ_GET_SIZE(rcv));
-	if (!sz) return -1; /* hard failure */
-	STIX_STACK_SETTOP(stix, sz);
+	if (!STIX_OOP_IS_POINTER(rcv))
+	{
+		sz = STIX_SMOOI_TO_OOP(0);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		sz = stix_oowtoint (stix, STIX_OBJ_GET_SIZE(rcv));
+		if (!sz) return -1; /* hard failure */
+	}
 
+	STIX_STACK_SETTOP(stix, sz);
 	return 1;
 }
 
@@ -1979,6 +1988,33 @@ static int prim_processor_return_to (stix_t* stix, stix_ooi_t nargs)
 	return 1;
 }
 
+static int prim_processor_return_to_and_eval (stix_t* stix, stix_ooi_t nargs)
+{
+	stix_oop_t rcv, ctx, blk, blkarg;
+
+	STIX_ASSERT (nargs == 3);
+
+	rcv = STIX_STACK_GET(stix, stix->sp - 3);
+	ctx = STIX_STACK_GET(stix, stix->sp - 2);
+	blk = STIX_STACK_GET(stix, stix->sp - 1);
+	blkarg = STIX_STACK_GET(stix, stix->sp);
+
+	if (rcv != (stix_oop_t)stix->processor) return 0;
+
+	if (STIX_CLASSOF(stix, ctx) != stix->_block_context &&
+	    STIX_CLASSOF(stix, ctx) != stix->_method_context) return 0;
+
+	if (STIX_CLASSOF(stix, blk) != stix->_block_context) return 0;
+
+	STIX_STACK_POPS (stix, nargs + 1); /* pop arguments and receiver */
+	STIX_STACK_PUSH (stix, stix->_nil); /* TODO: change the return value.. */
+	SWITCH_ACTIVE_CONTEXT (stix, (stix_oop_context_t)ctx);
+
+	STIX_STACK_PUSH (stix, blk);
+	STIX_STACK_PUSH (stix, blkarg);
+	return prim_block_value (stix, 1);
+}
+
 static int prim_processor_force_context (stix_t* stix, stix_ooi_t nargs)
 {
 	stix_oop_t rcv, ctx;
@@ -2358,7 +2394,9 @@ static int prim_integer_inttostr (stix_t* stix, stix_ooi_t nargs)
 	str = stix_inttostr (stix, rcv, radix);
 	if (!str) return (stix->errnum == STIX_EINVAL? 0: -1);
 
+	STIX_STACK_POP (stix);
 	STIX_STACK_SETTOP (stix, str);
+
 	return 1;
 }
 
@@ -2690,6 +2728,7 @@ static prim_t primitives[] =
 	{   2,  3,  prim_processor_add_timed_semaphore,    "_processor_add_timed_semaphore" },
 	{   1,  1,  prim_processor_remove_semaphore,       "_processor_remove_semaphore" },
 	{   2,  2,  prim_processor_return_to,              "_processor_return_to" },
+	{   3,  3,  prim_processor_return_to_and_eval,     "_processor_return_to_and_eval" },
 	{   1,  1,  prim_processor_force_context,          "_processor_force_context" },
 
 	{   1,  1,  prim_integer_add,                      "_integer_add"         },
@@ -2915,7 +2954,7 @@ static int send_message (stix_t* stix, stix_oop_char_t selector, int to_super, s
 		{
 			/* this must not happen as long as doesNotUnderstand: is implemented under Apex.
 			 * this check should indicate a very serious internal problem */
-			STIX_LOG4 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_FATAL, 
+			STIX_LOG4 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_FATAL, 
 				"Fatal error - receiver [%O] of class [%O] doesNotUnderstand: [%.*S]\n", 
 				receiver, STIX_CLASSOF(stix, receiver), mthname.len, mthname.ptr);
 
@@ -3167,7 +3206,7 @@ int stix_execute (stix_t* stix)
 		{
 			/* no more waiting semaphore and no more process */
 			STIX_ASSERT (stix->processor->tally = STIX_SMOOI_TO_OOP(0));
-			STIX_LOG0 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "No more runnable process\n");
+			STIX_LOG0 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_DEBUG, "No more runnable process\n");
 
 #if 0
 if (there is semaphore awaited.... )
@@ -3497,7 +3536,7 @@ if (there is semaphore awaited.... )
 			case BCODE_JUMP_IF_FALSE_1:
 			case BCODE_JUMP_IF_FALSE_2:
 			case BCODE_JUMP_IF_FALSE_3:
-STIX_LOG0 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_FATAL, "<<<<<<<<<<<<<< JUMP NOT IMPLEMENTED YET >>>>>>>>>>>>\n");
+STIX_LOG0 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_FATAL, "<<<<<<<<<<<<<< JUMP NOT IMPLEMENTED YET >>>>>>>>>>>>\n");
 stix->errnum = STIX_ENOIMPL;
 return -1;
 
@@ -3838,7 +3877,7 @@ return -1;
 				{
 					if (stix->active_context->origin->ip == STIX_SMOOI_TO_OOP(STIX_SMOOI_MIN))
 					{
-						STIX_LOG0 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_ERROR, "Error - cannot return from dead context\n");
+						STIX_LOG0 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_ERROR, "Error - cannot return from dead context\n");
 						stix->errnum = STIX_EINTERN; /* TODO: make this error catchable at the stix level... */
 						return -1;
 					}
@@ -4091,10 +4130,9 @@ return -1;
 
 
 			default:
-				STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_FATAL, "Fatal error - unknown byte code 0x%zx\n", bcode);
+				STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_FATAL, "Fatal error - unknown byte code 0x%zx\n", bcode);
 				stix->errnum = STIX_EINTERN;
 				break;
-
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -4102,7 +4140,7 @@ done:
 
 	vm_cleanup (stix);
 #if defined(STIX_PROFILE_VM)
-	STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_VM | STIX_LOG_INFO, "TOTAL_INST_COUTNER = %zu\n", inst_counter);
+	STIX_LOG1 (stix, STIX_LOG_IC | STIX_LOG_INFO, "TOTAL_INST_COUTNER = %zu\n", inst_counter);
 #endif
 	return 0;
 
diff --git a/stix/lib/heap.c b/stix/lib/heap.c
index 31cc7e5..2741590 100644
--- a/stix/lib/heap.c
+++ b/stix/lib/heap.c
@@ -65,10 +65,10 @@ void* stix_allocheapmem (stix_t* stix, stix_heap_t* heap, stix_oow_t size)
 {
 	stix_uint8_t* ptr;
 
-/*printf ("heap ptr %p  %p %lld %lld\n", heap->ptr, heap->limit, (long long int)size, (long long int)(heap->limit - heap->ptr));*/
 	/* check the heap size limit */
 	if (heap->ptr >= heap->limit || heap->limit - heap->ptr < size)
 	{
+		STIX_LOG4 (stix, STIX_LOG_ERROR, "Cannot allocate %zd bytes from heap - ptr %p limit %p size %zd\n", size, heap->ptr, heap->limit, (stix_oow_t)(heap->limit - heap->ptr));
 		stix->errnum = STIX_EOOMEM;
 		return STIX_NULL;
 	}
diff --git a/stix/lib/main.c b/stix/lib/main.c
index 42f40ad..3ce30d2 100644
--- a/stix/lib/main.c
+++ b/stix/lib/main.c
@@ -342,6 +342,9 @@ static void log_write (stix_t* stix, unsigned int mask, const stix_ooch_t* msg,
 
 	msgidx = 0;
 
+/* TODO: beautify the log message.
+ *       do classification based on mask. */
+
 	while (len > 0)
 	{
 		ucslen = len;
@@ -691,8 +694,8 @@ int main (int argc, char* argv[])
 	cancel_tick ();
 	g_stix = STIX_NULL;
 
-stix_dumpsymtab(stix);
-stix_dumpdic(stix, stix->sysdic, "System dictionary");
+	/*stix_dumpsymtab(stix);
+	 *stix_dumpdic(stix, stix->sysdic, "System dictionary");*/
 
 	stix_close (stix);
 
diff --git a/stix/lib/obj.c b/stix/lib/obj.c
index 069bc58..63f11b4 100644
--- a/stix/lib/obj.c
+++ b/stix/lib/obj.c
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ void* stix_allocbytes (stix_t* stix, stix_oow_t size)
 #endif
 
 	ptr = stix_allocheapmem (stix, stix->curheap, size);
-	if (!ptr && !(stix->option.trait & STIX_NOGC))
+	if (!ptr && stix->errnum == STIX_EOOMEM && !(stix->option.trait & STIX_NOGC))
 	{
 		stix_gc (stix);
 		ptr = stix_allocheapmem (stix, stix->curheap, size);
diff --git a/stix/lib/stix.h b/stix/lib/stix.h
index fbb2bd3..2816b4b 100644
--- a/stix/lib/stix.h
+++ b/stix/lib/stix.h
@@ -900,7 +900,7 @@ enum stix_log_mask_t
 
 	STIX_LOG_MNEMONIC = (1 << 8), /* bytecode mnemonic */
 	STIX_LOG_GC       = (1 << 9),
-	STIX_LOG_VM       = (1 << 10)
+	STIX_LOG_IC       = (1 << 10) /* instruction cycle, fetch-decode-execute */
 };
 typedef enum stix_log_mask_t stix_log_mask_t;