diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index 4d6b281..59d75e7 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 This file documents the revision history for the Perl library Validation::Class.
 
+7.65 (2012-06-17)
+    * allow keywords to be called/used in OO fashion
+    * fixed V::C::Exporter which broke due to recent updates (needs tests)
+
+7.59 (2012-06-16)
+    * builders are also passed all arguments given to the constructor
+    * fixed breakage in V::C::Exporter
+
 7.58 (2012-06-16)
     * changed structure for defining and using plugins
     * allow the retrieval of instantiated plugin objects
diff --git a/Makefile.PL b/Makefile.PL
index cc2a542..520d368 100644
--- a/Makefile.PL
+++ b/Makefile.PL
@@ -24,9 +24,10 @@ my %WriteMakefileArgs = (
     "Hash::Flatten" => 0,
     "Hash::Merge" => 0,
     "Module::Find" => 0,
+    "Module::Runtime" => 0,
     "utf8" => 0
   },
-  "VERSION" => "7.58",
+  "VERSION" => "7.65",
   "test" => {
     "TESTS" => "t/*.t t/regression/*.t t/regression/filters/*.t t/regression/validators/*.t"
   }
diff --git a/README b/README
index dc1f716..ffaafdb 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ NAME
     Framework
 
 VERSION
-    version 7.58
+    version 7.65
 
 SYNOPSIS
         package MyVal::User;
@@ -500,13 +500,9 @@ KEYWORDS
                 my ($self) = @_;
             
                 my @conn_str_parts =
-                    ('dbi', 'mysql', $self->name, $self->host, $self->port);
+                    ('dbi', 'mysql', map { $self->$_ } qw(name host port));
             
-                return (
-                    join(':', @conn_str_parts),
-                    $self->user,
-                    $self->pass
-                )
+                return (join(':', @conn_str_parts), $self->user, $self->pass);
             
             }
         };
diff --git a/README.mkdn b/README.mkdn
index 37522b3..6254a94 100644
--- a/README.mkdn
+++ b/README.mkdn
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Validation::Class - Self-Validating Object System and Data Validation Framework
 
 # VERSION
 
-version 7.58
+version 7.65
 
 # SYNOPSIS
 
@@ -603,14 +603,10 @@ constructs.
             
 
             my @conn_str_parts =
-                ('dbi', 'mysql', $self->name, $self->host, $self->port);
+                ('dbi', 'mysql', map { $self->$_ } qw(name host port));
             
 
-            return (
-                join(':', @conn_str_parts),
-                $self->user,
-                $self->pass
-            )
+            return (join(':', @conn_str_parts), $self->user, $self->pass);
             
 
         }
diff --git a/dist.ini b/dist.ini
index c39a397..a99ba5c 100644
--- a/dist.ini
+++ b/dist.ini
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ author              = Al Newkirk <anewkirk@ana.io>
 license             = Perl_5
 copyright_holder    = Al Newkirk
 copyright_year      = 2011
-version             = 7.58
+version             = 7.65
 
 [MetaResources]
 homepage            = https://github.com/alnewkirk/Validation-Class
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ Carp                = 0
 Hash::Flatten       = 0
 Hash::Merge         = 0
 Module::Find        = 0
+Module::Runtime     = 0
 
 [@Basic]
 
diff --git a/lib/Validation/Class.pm b/lib/Validation/Class.pm
index 88f9c6c..fcc0d2f 100644
--- a/lib/Validation/Class.pm
+++ b/lib/Validation/Class.pm
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use warnings;
 # VERSION
 
 use Module::Find;
+use Module::Runtime 'use_module';
 use Carp 'confess';
 use Hash::Merge 'merge';
 use Exporter ();
@@ -95,13 +96,13 @@ use Validation::Class::Prototype;
     
     sub configure_class_proto {
         
-        my $configuration_routine = shift;
+        my $configuration_routine = pop;
         
         return undef unless "CODE" eq ref $configuration_routine;
         
         no strict 'refs';
         
-        my $proto = return_class_proto;
+        my $proto = return_class_proto shift;
         
         $configuration_routine->($proto);
         
@@ -264,6 +265,8 @@ coderef that will be used as its default value.
 sub has { goto &attribute }
 sub attribute {
     
+    my $package = shift if @_ == 3;
+    
     my ($attrs, $default) = @_;
 
     return unless $attrs;
@@ -306,7 +309,7 @@ sub attribute {
             
         }
         
-        return configure_class_proto sub {
+        return configure_class_proto $package => sub {
             
             my ($proto) = @_;
             
@@ -348,11 +351,13 @@ class object.
 sub bld { goto &build }
 sub build {
     
+    my $package = shift if @_ == 2;
+    
     my ($code) = @_;
     
     return undef unless ("CODE" eq ref $code);
     
-    return configure_class_proto sub {
+    return configure_class_proto $package => sub {
         
         my ($proto) = @_;
         
@@ -424,11 +429,13 @@ you can create a no-op by simply returning true, e.g.:
 sub dir { goto &directive }
 sub directive {
     
+    my $package = shift if @_ == 3;
+    
     my ($name, $data) = @_;
     
     return undef unless ($name && $data);
     
-    return configure_class_proto sub {
+    return configure_class_proto $package => sub {
         
         my ($proto) = @_;
         
@@ -505,6 +512,8 @@ instead.
 sub fld { goto &field }
 sub field {
     
+    my $package = shift if @_ == 3;
+    
     my ($name, $data) = @_;
     
     return undef unless ($name && $data);
@@ -513,7 +522,7 @@ sub field {
         unless $name =~ /^[a-zA-Z_](([\w\.]+)?\w)$/
         xor    $name =~ /^[a-zA-Z_](([\w\.]+)?\w)\:\d+$/;
     
-    return configure_class_proto sub {
+    return configure_class_proto $package => sub {
         
         my ($proto) = @_;
     
@@ -601,11 +610,13 @@ The coderef should also return the transformed value.
 sub flt { goto &filter }
 sub filter {
     
+    my $package = shift if @_ == 3;
+    
     my ($name, $data) = @_;
     
     return undef unless ($name && $data);
     
-    return configure_class_proto sub {
+    return configure_class_proto $package => sub {
         
         my ($proto) = @_;
         
@@ -726,16 +737,78 @@ executing load/set commands, the syntax is as follows:
 sub set { goto &load }
 sub load {
     
-    my $data  = @_ % 2 ? $_[0] || {} : {@_};
+    my $package;
+    my $data;
+    
+    # handle different types of invocations
+    
+    # 1   - load({})
+    # 2+  - load(a => b)
+    # 2+  - package->load({})
+    # 3+  - package->load(a => b)
     
-    return configure_class_proto sub {
+    # --
+    
+    # load({})
+    
+    if (@_ == 1) {
+        
+        if ("HASH" eq ref $_[0]) {
+            
+            $data = shift;
+            
+        }
+        
+    }
+    
+    # load(a => b)
+    # package->load({})
+    
+    elsif (@_ == 2) {
+        
+        if ("HASH" eq ref $_[-1]) {
+            
+            $package = shift;
+            $data    = shift;
+            
+        }
+        
+        else {
+            
+            $data = {@_};
+            
+        }
+        
+    }
+    
+    # load(a => b)
+    # package->load(a => b)
+    
+    elsif (@_ >= 3) {
+        
+        if (@_ % 2) {
+            
+            $package = shift;
+            $data    = {@_};
+            
+        }
+        
+        else {
+            
+            $data = {@_};
+            
+        }
+        
+    }
+    
+    return configure_class_proto $package => sub {
         
         my ($proto) = @_;
         
         my $name = $proto->{package};
         
         $proto->{config}->{BUILDERS} ||= [];
-
+        
         if ($data->{classes}) {
             
             my @parents ;
@@ -788,14 +861,8 @@ sub load {
                 
                 $plugin =~ s/^\+//;
                 
-                # require plugin
-                my $file = $plugin;
-                   $file =~ s/::/\//g;
-                   $file .= ".pm";
+                use_module $plugin;
                 
-                eval "require $plugin"
-                    unless $INC{$file}; # unless already loaded
-            
             }
             
             $proto->{config}->{PLUGINS}->{$_} = undef for @plugins;
@@ -803,13 +870,14 @@ sub load {
         }
         
         # attach roles
+        
         if (grep { $data->{$_} } qw/base bases role roles/) {
             
             my @roles ;
             
             my $alias =
-                $data->{base} || $data->{role} ||
-                $data->{roles} || $data->{bases};
+                $data->{base}  || $data->{role} ||
+                $data->{roles} || $data->{bases}; # backwards compat
             
             if ($alias) {
                 
@@ -822,22 +890,17 @@ sub load {
                 
                 foreach my $role (@roles) {
                     
-                    # require plugin
-                    my $file = $role;
-                       $file =~ s/::/\//g;
-                       $file .= ".pm";
+                    use_module $role;
                     
                     no strict 'refs';
                     
-                    eval "require $role"
-                        unless $INC{$file}; # unless already loaded
-                    
                     my @routines = grep { defined &{"$role\::$_"} }
                         keys %{"$role\::"};
                     
                     if (@routines) {
                         
                         # copy methods
+                        
                         foreach my $routine (@routines) {
                             
                             eval {
@@ -845,8 +908,7 @@ sub load {
                                 *{"$proto->{package}\::$routine"} =
                                 *{"$role\::$routine"}
                             
-                            }   unless $proto->{package}->can($routine);
-                            # maybe I should issue a warning?
+                            } unless $proto->{package}->can($routine);
                             
                         }
                         
@@ -856,6 +918,7 @@ sub load {
                         $role_proto->{config}  ||= {}; # good measure
                         
                         # merge configs
+                        
                         $proto->{config} =
                             merge $proto->{config}, $role_proto->{config};
                         
@@ -935,11 +998,13 @@ validation failures are handled.
 sub mth { goto &method }
 sub method {
 
+    my $package = shift if @_ == 3;
+    
     my ($name, $data) = @_;
 
     return undef unless ($name && $data);
     
-    return configure_class_proto sub {
+    return configure_class_proto $package => sub {
         
         my ($proto) = @_;
         
@@ -1078,12 +1143,14 @@ pairs known as directives.
 
 sub mxn { goto &mixin }
 sub mixin {
+    
+    my $package = shift if @_ == 3;
 
     my ($name, $data) = @_;
     
     return undef unless ($name && $data);
 
-    return configure_class_proto sub {
+    return configure_class_proto $package => sub {
         
         my $proto = shift;
         
@@ -1126,7 +1193,7 @@ sub new {
 
     my $class = shift;
     
-    my $proto  = return_class_proto $class;
+    my $proto  = return_class_proto ref $class || $class;
     
     my $config = $proto->{config};
     
@@ -1183,7 +1250,7 @@ sub new {
     
     foreach my $builder (@{$config->{BUILDERS}}) {
         
-        $builder->($self);
+        $builder->($self, %ARGS);
         
     }
     
@@ -1239,13 +1306,9 @@ constructs.
             my ($self) = @_;
             
             my @conn_str_parts =
-                ('dbi', 'mysql', $self->name, $self->host, $self->port);
+                ('dbi', 'mysql', map { $self->$_ } qw(name host port));
             
-            return (
-                join(':', @conn_str_parts),
-                $self->user,
-                $self->pass
-            )
+            return (join(':', @conn_str_parts), $self->user, $self->pass);
             
         }
     };
@@ -1315,11 +1378,13 @@ the object. The supplied hashref should be configured as follows:
 sub obj { goto &object }
 sub object {
 
+    my $package = shift if @_ == 3;
+    
     my ($name, $data) = @_;
 
     return undef unless ($name && $data);
     
-    return configure_class_proto sub {
+    return configure_class_proto $package => sub {
         
         my ($proto) = @_;
         
@@ -1415,11 +1480,13 @@ be used to execute a sequence of actions for validation purposes.
 sub pro { goto &profile }
 sub profile {
 
+    my $package = shift if @_ == 3;
+    
     my ($name, $data) = @_;
 
     return undef unless ($name && "CODE" eq ref $data);
     
-    return configure_class_proto sub {
+    return configure_class_proto $package => sub {
         
         my ($proto) = @_;
         
diff --git a/lib/Validation/Class/Exporter.pm b/lib/Validation/Class/Exporter.pm
index 445d5ae..ba8b0b9 100644
--- a/lib/Validation/Class/Exporter.pm
+++ b/lib/Validation/Class/Exporter.pm
@@ -104,11 +104,9 @@ sub apply_spec {
     
     my $parent = caller(0);
     
-    my @keywords = @{ $args{keywords} } if $args{keywords};
-
-    my @routines = @{ $args{routines} } if $args{routines};
-    
-    my $settings = { @{ $args{settings} } } if $args{settings};
+    my @keywords =  @{$args{keywords}}   if $args{keywords};
+    my @routines =  @{$args{routines}}   if $args{routines};
+    my $settings = {@{$args{settings}}}  if $args{settings};
     
     *{"$parent\::import"} = sub {
        
diff --git a/lib/Validation/Class/Prototype.pm b/lib/Validation/Class/Prototype.pm
index 8f7d391..cab765d 100644
--- a/lib/Validation/Class/Prototype.pm
+++ b/lib/Validation/Class/Prototype.pm
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ use base 'Validation::Class::Backwards'; # I'm pro-life
 
 use Carp 'confess';
 use Hash::Merge 'merge';
+use Module::Runtime 'use_module';
 use Hash::Flatten;
 
 use Validation::Class::Base 'has', 'hold';
@@ -1392,16 +1393,7 @@ sub class {
     
     my $class_name = $self->relatives->{$class};
     
-    {
-        
-        # load class if not loaded
-        my $file = $class_name;
-           $file =~ s/::/\//g;
-           $file .= ".pm";
-        
-        eval "require $class_name" unless $INC{$file} ;
-        
-    }
+    use_module $class_name;
     
     my $child = $class_name->new(%settings);