diff --git a/test.c b/test.c
index b9600ee..e9163c4 100644
--- a/test.c
+++ b/test.c
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
   for(int i = 0; i < order; i++)
     reduced[i] = reduced[group[i]];
 
-  // count cosets
+  // step 4: assign indices to cosets
   ncosets = 0;
   for(int i = 0; i < order; i++)
     if(reduced[i] == i)
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
   seen = (int*) malloc(ncosets*sizeof(int));
   edgelists_simplified_used = 0;
 
-  // copy minima
+  // step 5: set up nodes from minima
   current = 0;
   for(int i = 0; i < order; i++)
     if(reduced[i] == i) { // is minimum
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
   for(int i = 0; i < ncosets; i++)
     fprintf(stderr, "%s <=> %s\n", simplified_graph[i].wordlength == 0 ? "1" : alphabetize(simplified_graph[i].word, simplified_graph[i].wordlength, alphabet, buffer), simplified_graph[simplified_graph[i].opposite].wordlength == 0 ? "1" : alphabetize(simplified_graph[simplified_graph[i].opposite].word, simplified_graph[simplified_graph[i].opposite].wordlength, alphabet, buffer2));
 
-  // find order relations
+  // step 6: find order relations
   for(int i = 0; i < order; i++) {
     edge = graph[i].bruhat_lower;
     while(edge) {
@@ -149,8 +149,6 @@ int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
 	// found something
 	if(!edgelist_contains(simplified_graph[this].bruhat_lower, that))
 	  simplified_graph[this].bruhat_lower = edgelist_add(simplified_graph[this].bruhat_lower, that, edgelists_simplified, &edgelists_simplified_used);
-	//	if(!edgelist_contains(simplified_graph[that].bruhat_higher, this))
-	//	  simplified_graph[that].bruhat_higher = edgelist_add(simplified_graph[that].bruhat_higher, this, edgelists_simplified, &edgelists_simplified_used);
 	ERROR(simplified_graph[this].wordlength <= simplified_graph[that].wordlength, "The order assumption is being violated!\n");
       }
       edge = edge->next;
@@ -159,7 +157,7 @@ int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
 
   fprintf(stderr, "\nAdded %d edges.\n\n", edgelists_simplified_used);
 
-  // remove redundant edges
+  // step 7: remove redundant edges
   for(int i = 0; i < ncosets; i++) {
     memset(seen, 0, ncosets*sizeof(int));
     queue_init(&queue);
@@ -203,7 +201,7 @@ int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
     }
   }
 
-  // reverse order
+  // step 8: revert order
   for(int i = 0; i < ncosets; i++) {
     edge = simplified_graph[i].bruhat_lower;
     while(edge) {
@@ -214,9 +212,8 @@ int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
     }
   }
 
-
+  // output as graphviz dot file
   fprintf(stdout, "digraph test123 {\n");
-
   for(int i = 0; i < ncosets; i++) {
     edge = simplified_graph[i].bruhat_lower;
     while(edge) {
@@ -227,19 +224,12 @@ int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
       edge = edge->next;
     }
   }
-
   fprintf(stdout, "}\n");
 
   long nthickenings = enumerate_balanced_thickenings(type, simplified_graph, ncosets, alphabet, stdout);
 
   fprintf(stderr, "Found %ld balanced thickenings.\n", nthickenings);
 
-  /*  for(int i = 0; i < order; i++)
-    printf("%s <= %s\n",
-	   reduced[i] == 0 ? "1" : alphabetize(graph[reduced[i]].word, graph[reduced[i]].wordlength, alphabet, buffer2),
-	   i == 0 ? "1" : alphabetize(graph[i].word, graph[i].wordlength, alphabet, buffer)); */
-
-
   free(seen);
   free(simplified_graph);
   free(edgelists_simplified);
diff --git a/thickenings.c b/thickenings.c
index f468733..4855d62 100644
--- a/thickenings.c
+++ b/thickenings.c
@@ -365,19 +365,22 @@ static long enumerate_tree(const enumeration_info_t *info, signed char *level, i
   level[head] = HEAD_MARKER;
 
   int is_slim = transitive_closure(info, level, head, current_level);
-  int is_fat;
+  int is_balanced = 0;
   int count = 0;
 
   // we have a candidate, check if it is a balanced thickening; if so, write to stdout
   if(is_slim) {
-    is_fat = 1;
+    is_balanced = 1;
     for(int i = head - 1; i >= 0; i--)
       if(level[i] == 0)
-	is_fat = 0;
+	is_balanced = 0;
+  }
 
-    output_thickening(info, level, current_level, is_slim, is_fat, count);
+  // comment this out (or just put it inside the if block) to save 1/3 of the runtime
+  output_thickening(info, level, current_level, is_slim, is_balanced, count);
 
-    if(is_fat) {
+  if(is_slim) {
+    if(is_balanced) {
       count++;
       fwrite(level, sizeof(signed char), info->size, info->outfile);
     } else {