diff --git a/get_spec_file.py b/get_spec_file.py
index 8c0f83d..4077f4d 100644
--- a/get_spec_file.py
+++ b/get_spec_file.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import dateutil
 from tqdm import tqdm
 import math
 import io 
+import re
 
 working_dir = "/data/users/mgaughan/kkex/time_specific_files/readme"
 temp_dir = "/data/users/mgaughan/tmp3/"
@@ -26,27 +27,29 @@ def get_file(vcs_link, commit_hash, is_readme):
     else:
         full_temp_path = temp_dir + vcs_link.split('/')[- 1] + ".git"
         other_temp_path = temp_dir + vcs_link.split('/')[- 1] + ".git0"
-    repo = Repo.clone_from(vcs_link, full_temp_path)
-    repo0 = Git(uri=vcs_link, gitpath=other_temp_path)
-    commit0 = repo.commit(commit_hash)
-    commits = repo0.fetch()
+    repo0 = Repo.clone_from(vcs_link, full_temp_path)
+    repo = Git(uri=vcs_link, gitpath=other_temp_path)
+    commit0 = repo0.commit(commit_hash)
+    commits = repo.fetch()
     target_filename = ""
     for commit in commits:
         files = commit['data']['files']
         for file in files:
             if is_readme:
                 if "README" in file['file']:
-                    print(file['file'])
+                    #print(file['file'])
                     if "/" in file['file']:
                         target_filename = file['file'].split("/")[-1]
                     else:
                         target_filename = file['file']
             else:
                 if "CONTRIBUTING" in file['file']:
+                    '''
                     if "/" in file['file']:
                         target_filename = file['file'].split("/")[-1]
                     else:
-                        target_filename = file['file']
+                    '''
+                    target_filename = str(file['file'])
     #print(commit.tree)
     #getting the name of the file from the root directory
     '''
@@ -63,11 +66,20 @@ def get_file(vcs_link, commit_hash, is_readme):
     '''
     if target_filename == "":
         return "NoFile"
+    target_filename = "README.md"
     #issue with searching through the tree this way
-    targetfile = commit0.tree / target_filename
-    #try:
-    #    targetfile = commit.tree / target_filename
-    #except KeyError:
+    # need to match the tree w blobs 
+    #print(commit0.tree.blobs)
+    #file_id = commit0.tree[r'README.*'].hexsha
+    #targetfile = repo0.blob(file_id)
+    try:
+        targetfile = commit0.tree / target_filename
+    except KeyError:
+        target_filename = "README.rst"
+        try:
+            targetfile = commit0.tree / target_filename
+        except KeyError:
+            return "KeyError -- the file is not in the commit tree"
         # why would a file not be in the commit tree? but would be in the directory?
         #shutil.rmtree(full_temp_path, ignore_errors=True)
     #    return "KeyError -- the file is not in the commit tree"