diff --git a/docs/todo.md b/docs/todo.md
index 3c3bed5..e57b274 100644
--- a/docs/todo.md
+++ b/docs/todo.md
@@ -6,5 +6,6 @@
 - web browsers config and install
 - get find, xargs, awk (use nawk) as unified as i can across system types
 - pick rss reader; newsboat? others? option with inbox and separate queues?
+- make all these scripts posix-complient (or at least usable in ksh/oksh)
 - decide if i even want a filemanager; if yes, pick one and configure
 
diff --git a/docs/workflow-and-workspaces-scheme.md b/docs/workflow-and-workspaces-scheme.md
index 75bc4ac..7345d08 100644
--- a/docs/workflow-and-workspaces-scheme.md
+++ b/docs/workflow-and-workspaces-scheme.md
@@ -6,18 +6,18 @@ idea from the ThePrimeagen: designated workspace/label/desktop per app/purpose
 
 ### current layout
 
-| key | app/focus |
-|-----|-----------|
-| 1.  | notes (nvim, obsidian) |
-| 2.  | music makeing - misc |
-| 3.  | music making - daw |
-| 4.  | drawing (gimp) |
-| 5.  | music/audio listening |
-| 6.  | comms (emails, chats, av/calls) |
-| 7.  | web browser |
-| 8.  | terminal (primary; one-off terminals & tui apps can be anywhere) |
-| 9.  | programming - misc (whatever is not in primary terminal) |
-| 0.  | general - misc (catch-all) |
+| key | app/focus
+|-----|-----------
+| 1.  | system monitor (htop)
+| 2.  | music makeing - misc
+| 3.  | music making - daw
+| 4.  | stack: drawing (gimp), obsidian
+| 5.  | listening/wathcing (any music, audio, or video)
+| 6.  | comms (emails, chats, av/calls)
+| 7.  | web browser
+| 8.  | terminal (primary; one-off terminals & tui apps can be anywhere)
+| 9.  | programming - misc (whatever is not in primary terminal)
+| 0.  | general - misc (catch-all)
 
 ### ideas/guidelines:
 - use this consistently accross all machines
diff --git a/home_dir_clean.sh b/home_dir_clean.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..d82eef1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/home_dir_clean.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+# adjust settings in src_files/shell/profile, src_files/shell/rc, or otherwise
+# for programs i actually use or programs which have simple enough configuration
+# options to follow the XDG spec.
+# this script is for everything else, which i just want to wipe out quickly.
+
+rm -rf "$HOME"/.bash*
diff --git a/make_dirs.sh b/make_dirs.sh
index 23a9e2d..c876324 100755
--- a/make_dirs.sh
+++ b/make_dirs.sh
@@ -1,33 +1,37 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
+#!/bin/sh
 
-echo "---- making system dirs ----------------"
 . ./src_files/shell/profile # ensure env vars set for use below
+echo "---- making system dirs ----------------"
 
 # some standard/common directories, some overlap/use in XDG directories
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_LOCAL" ]] && mkdir -p "$DIR_LOCAL"
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_BIN" ]] && mkdir -p "$DIR_BIN"
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_SCRIPTS" ]] && mkdir -p "$DIR_SCRIPTS"
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_USER_OPT" ]] && mkdir -p "$DIR_USER_OPT"
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_USER_LIB" ]] && mkdir -p "$DIR_USER_LIB"
+! [ -d "$DIR_LOCAL" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_LOCAL"
+! [ -d "$DIR_BIN" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_BIN"
+! [ -d "$DIR_SCRIPTS" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_SCRIPTS"
+! [ -d "$DIR_USER_OPT" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_USER_OPT"
+! [ -d "$DIR_USER_LIB" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_USER_LIB"
 
 # directories related to XDG Base Directory specification
-[[ ! -d "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME" ]] && mkdir -p "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME"
-[[ ! -d "$XDG_CACHE_HOME" ]] && mkdir -p "$XDG_CACHE_HOME"
-[[ ! -d "$XDG_DATA_HOME" ]] && mkdir -p "$XDG_DATA_HOME"
-[[ ! -d "$XDG_STATE_HOME" ]] && mkdir -p "$XDG_STATE_HOME"
+! [ -d "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME" ] && mkdir -p "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME"
+! [ -d "$XDG_CACHE_HOME" ] && mkdir -p "$XDG_CACHE_HOME"
+! [ -d "$XDG_DATA_HOME" ] && mkdir -p "$XDG_DATA_HOME"
+! [ -d "$XDG_STATE_HOME" ] && mkdir -p "$XDG_STATE_HOME"
 
 # additional directories for how i'm organizing my system
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_HOME_BOX" ]] && mkdir -p $DIR_HOME_BOX
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_MUSIC" ]] && mkdir -p $DIR_MUSIC
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_NOTES" ]] && mkdir -p $DIR_NOTES
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_DEV" ]] && mkdir -p $DIR_DEV
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_GIT_PROJECTS" ]] && mkdir -p $DIR_GIT_PROJECTS
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_GIT_PROJECTS/me" ]] && mkdir -p $DIR_DEV/git/me
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_GIT_PROJECTS/forks" ]] && mkdir -p $DIR_DEV/git/forks
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_GIT_PROJECTS/learning" ]] && mkdir -p $DIR_DEV/git/learning
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_GIT_PROJECTS/other" ]] && mkdir -p $DIR_DEV/git/other
+! [ -d "$DIR_HOME_BOX" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_HOME_BOX"
+! [ -d "$DIR_MUSIC" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_MUSIC"
+! [ -d "$DIR_NOTES" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_NOTES"
+! [ -d "$DIR_DEV" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_DEV"
+! [ -d "$DIR_GIT_PROJECTS" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_GIT_PROJECTS"
+! [ -d "$DIR_GIT_PROJECTS/me" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_DEV/git/me"
+! [ -d "$DIR_GIT_PROJECTS/forks" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_DEV/git/forks"
+! [ -d "$DIR_GIT_PROJECTS/learning" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_DEV/git/learning"
+! [ -d "$DIR_GIT_PROJECTS/other" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_DEV/git/other"
 
 # directories for music/audio production
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_SHARED" ]] && mkdir -p $DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_SHARED
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_LINUX" ]] && mkdir -p $DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_LINUX
-[[ ! -d "$DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_MACOS" ]] && mkdir -p $DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_MACOS
+! [ -d "$DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_SHARED" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_SHARED"
+! [ -d "$DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_LINUX" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_LINUX"
+! [ -d "$DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_MACOS" ] && mkdir -p "$DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_MACOS"
+
+# echo "---- making system or home-cleanup files"
+# ! [ -d "$(dirname $HISTFILE)" ] && mkdir -p "$(dirname $HISTFILE)"
+# ! [ -r "$HISTFILE" ] && touch "$HISTFILE"
diff --git a/src_files/.config/nvim/init.lua b/src_files/.config/nvim/init.lua
index 714bb0a..8598c9e 100644
--- a/src_files/.config/nvim/init.lua
+++ b/src_files/.config/nvim/init.lua
@@ -1,16 +1,6 @@
-local csGroup = vim.api.nvim_create_augroup("coreSettingsGroup", { clear = true })
-local csgAutocmd = vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd
-
 require("settings")
 require("plugin_manager")
 require("key_mappings")
 require("util_functions")
-
-csgAutocmd({"BufWritePre"}, {
-    group = csGroup,
-    pattern = "*",
-    command = [[%s/\s\+$//e]],
-})
-
+require("auto_commands")
 ThemeUpdate()
-
diff --git a/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/auto_commands.lua b/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/auto_commands.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0599e80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/auto_commands.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+local autoCmdGroup = vim.api.nvim_create_augroup("autoCmdGroup", { clear = true })
+local autoCmd = vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd
+
+autoCmd({"BufWritePre"}, {
+    group = autoCmdGroup,
+    pattern = "*",
+    command = [[%s/\s\+$//e]],
+})
+
+autoCmd({"BufReadPre"}, {
+    group = autoCmdGroup,
+    pattern = os.getenv("DIR_NOTES") .. "/**/*.md",
+    command = [[lua vim.opt_local.conceallevel = 1]],
+})
+
diff --git a/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/plugins_lazy/obsidian.lua b/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/plugins_lazy/obsidian.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5599a66
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/plugins_lazy/obsidian.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+return {
+    {
+        "obsidian-nvim/obsidian.nvim",
+        version = "*", -- '*' for latest release, not latest commit
+        ft = "markdown",
+        opts = {
+            workspaces = {
+                {
+                    name = "notes",
+                    path = os.getenv("DIR_NOTES"),
+                },
+            },
+            legacy_commands = false,
+        },
+    },
+}
diff --git a/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/settings.lua b/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/settings.lua
index 6b1e71a..0dfc024 100644
--- a/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/settings.lua
+++ b/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/settings.lua
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ vim.opt.textwidth = 0
 vim.opt.wrapmargin = 0
 vim.opt.fillchars = { eob = ' ' }
 
+vim.opt.conceallevel = 0
+
 vim.opt.spell = false
 vim.opt.spelllang = 'en_us'
 
diff --git a/src_files/shell/profile b/src_files/shell/profile
index 3d796c4..921cd29 100644
--- a/src_files/shell/profile
+++ b/src_files/shell/profile
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export XDG_DATA_DIRS="/usr/local/share:/usr/share"
 
 # directory for theme/style stuff
 export DIR_THEME_SETTINGS="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zz-this-box/themes"
-export DEFAULT_THEME_NAME="tokyodark"
+export DEFAULT_THEME_NAME="gruvbox"
 
 # zsh
 export ZDOTDIR="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zsh" # may already be set, set anyway
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ export DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_SHARED="$DIR_USER_OPT/reaper-portable/shared"
 export DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_LINUX="$DIR_USER_OPT/reaper-portable/linux"
 export DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_MACOS="$DIR_USER_OPT/reaper-portable/macos"
 
-# clean-up of home dir
+# xdg spec and/or clean-up of home dir
 export __CF_USER_TEXT_ENCODING="0x0:0x0" # TODO: does this actually accomplish anything?
+export ANDROID_USER_HOME="$XDG_DATA_HOME/android"
 
diff --git a/src_files/shell/rc b/src_files/shell/rc
index e59231e..a3eaa71 100644
--- a/src_files/shell/rc
+++ b/src_files/shell/rc
@@ -66,3 +66,7 @@ alias shrug='echo "¯\\_(ツ)_/¯"'
 
 # programming and language setup
 export DEVKITARM=/opt/devkitpro/devkitARM
+
+# xdg spec and/or clean-up of home dir
+alias adb="HOME='$XDG_DATA_HOME/android' adb"
+