diff --git a/copy_dotfiles.sh b/copy_dotfiles.sh
index 9eaab9a..775982b 100755
--- a/copy_dotfiles.sh
+++ b/copy_dotfiles.sh
@@ -1,36 +1,37 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
+#!/bin/sh
 
-echo_and_execute() { echo "executing: $@" && "$@" }
+echo_and_execute() {
+    echo "executing: $@" && "$@"
+}
 
 copy_file() {
-    local from=$1
-    local to=$2
-    local filename=$(basename $from)
-    [[ -e $to/$filename ]] && rm $to/$filename
-    echo_and_execute cp -RPp $from $to/$filename
+    from=$1
+    to=$2
+    filename=$(basename "$from")
+    [ -e "$to/$filename" ] && rm "$to/$filename"
+    echo_and_execute cp -RPp "$from" "$to/$filename"
 }
 
 copy_dir() {
-    local from=$1
-    local to=$2
-    pushd $from > /dev/null
-    local directories=(`find . -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type d`)
-    for dir in $directories; do
-        [[ -d $to/$dir ]] && rm -rf $to/$dir
-        echo_and_execute cp -RPp $dir $to/$dir
+    from=$1
+    to=$2
+    prev_dir=$(pwd)
+    cd "$from" || return 1
+    find . -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type d | while read -r dir; do
+        [ -d "$to/$dir" ] && rm -rf "$to/$dir"
+        echo_and_execute cp -RPp "$dir" "$to/$dir"
     done
-    local files=(`find . -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type f`)
-    for file in $files; do
-        copy_file $file $to
+    find . -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type f | while read -r file; do
+        copy_file "$file" "$to"
     done
-    popd > /dev/null
+    cd "$prev_dir" || return 1
 }
 
 sym_link() {
-    [[ ! -e "$1" ]] && echo "skipping link, target does not exist: $1" && return
-    [[ -h "$2" ]] && rm $2
-    [[ -f "$2" || -d "$2" ]] && rm -rf $2
-    echo_and_execute ln -s $1 $2
+    ! [ -e "$1" ] && echo "skipping link, target does not exist: $1" && return
+    [ -h "$2" ] && rm "$2"
+    test -f "$2" -o -d "$2" && rm -rf "$2"
+    echo_and_execute ln -s "$1" "$2"
 }
 
 echo "---- copying dotfiles ------------------"
@@ -47,12 +48,12 @@ copy_dir src_files/.local/bin $DIR_BIN
 copy_dir src_files/.local/scripts $DIR_SCRIPTS
 
 # macOS overrides as needed
-[[ "$OSTYPE" = *"darwin"* ]] && copy_dir src_files/bin_overrides_macos $DIR_BIN
+case "$OSTYPE" in *darwin*) copy_dir src_files/bin_overrides_macos $DIR_BIN;; esac
 
 # obsidian uses a per-vault config model, so copy to all target vaults/dirs
-for obs_dir in "${OBSIDIAN_WORKSPACES_TO_CONFIGURE[@]}"; do
-    [[ ! -d "$obs_dir/.obsidian" ]] && mkdir "$obs_dir/.obsidian"
-    copy_dir $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/obsidian "$obs_dir/.obsidian"
+IFS=","; for obs_dir in $OBSIDIAN_WORKSPACES_TO_CONFIGURE; do
+    ! [ -d "$obs_dir/.obsidian" ] && mkdir "$obs_dir/.obsidian"
+    copy_dir "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/obsidian" "$obs_dir/.obsidian"
 done
 
 # TODO: get reaper config set up
diff --git a/docs/post-run.md b/docs/post-run.md
index 4d5e097..e7e5018 100644
--- a/docs/post-run.md
+++ b/docs/post-run.md
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 - shell
     - check user's shell using `echo $SHELL` or otherwise
     - if not the desired shell:
-        - `chsh -l` to see options; if target shell isn't listed, then add it
-          to `/etc/shells`
+        - `cat /etc/shells` (or `chsh -l` if supported) to see options
+        - if target shell isn't listed, add it to `/etc/shells`
         - then change the shell with `chsh -s <path to target shell>`
 
 ## macOS
diff --git a/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/key_mappings.lua b/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/key_mappings.lua
index cd89cf9..6fb4172 100644
--- a/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/key_mappings.lua
+++ b/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/key_mappings.lua
@@ -22,13 +22,13 @@ vim.keymap.set("n", "N", "Nzv")
 -- maintain cursor position after paragraph formatting
 vim.keymap.set("n", "=ap", "mF=ap'F")
 
--- shortcuts for deleting into the void register
-vim.keymap.set({ "n", "v" }, "<leader>d", [["_d]])
-vim.keymap.set("x", "<leader>P", [["_dP]]) -- replace selected text, keep main register
+-- replace selected text, keep main register
+vim.keymap.set("x", "<leader>P", [["_dP]])
 
 -- shortcuts for using + register (system clipboard)
 vim.keymap.set({ "n", "v" }, "<leader>y", [["+y]])
 vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>Y", [["+Y]])
+vim.keymap.set({ "n", "v" }, "<leader>d", [["+d]])
 vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>D", [["+D]])
 vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>p", [["+p]])
 
diff --git a/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/util_functions.lua b/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/util_functions.lua
index 4a0a679..fee1bc6 100644
--- a/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/util_functions.lua
+++ b/src_files/.config/nvim/lua/util_functions.lua
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ function ToggleWritingMode()
         vim.opt_local.relativenumber = true
         vim.opt_local.signcolumn = "yes"
         vim.opt_local.cursorline = true
+        vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, 'SpellCap', vim.g.wrmode_prev_hl_spellcap or {})
         vim.opt_local.spell = false
         -- vim.opt_local.wrap = true -- TODO: needed?
         vim.opt_local.textwidth = 0
@@ -98,6 +99,8 @@ function ToggleWritingMode()
         local writing_pane = vim.api.nvim_get_current_win()
         EnableWritingModeUiForCurrentWindow()
         vim.opt_local.spell = true
+        vim.g.wrmode_prev_hl_spellcap = vim.api.nvim_get_hl(0, { name = 'SpellCap' })
+        vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, 'SpellCap', {})
         vim.opt_local.textwidth = window_width
         vim.opt_local.scrolloff = 14
         vim.opt_local.formatoptions:append('t')
diff --git a/src_files/.config/zsh/.zprofile b/src_files/.config/zsh/.zprofile
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29..0000000
diff --git a/src_files/.config/zsh/.zshrc b/src_files/.config/zsh/.zshrc
index e12b88c..67d6fd9 100644
--- a/src_files/.config/zsh/.zshrc
+++ b/src_files/.config/zsh/.zshrc
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@ set -o vi
 export PATH=$DIR_BIN:$DIR_SCRIPTS:$PATH:$XDG_DATA_HOME
 export PATH=$PATH:/opt/homebrew/opt/ccache/libexec:/opt/homebrew/bin
 
+# set env vars specific to this box, if any
+[ -r "$HOME/.local-box-vars" ] && . $HOME/.local-box-vars
+
 # shortcuts for common commands
 alias 3e='echo;echo;echo'
 alias 12e='3e;3e;3e;3e'
@@ -28,15 +31,36 @@ alias note="cd $DIR_NOTES/inbox; $EDITOR"
 alias todo="cd $DIR_NOTES/rhythm; $EDITOR todo.md"
 alias budget="open $DIR_HOME_BOX/finance/budget/.current"
 
+# login shortcuts
+alias assume="source assume"
+alias login-aws='aws sso login --profile'
+alias login-aws-id-list="grep sso_account_id $HOME/.aws/config"
+
+# git stuff
+alias gfo='git fetch origin'
+alias gfl='git fetch origin; git log'
+alias gpo='git pull origin'
+alias gppo='git push origin'
+alias gst='git status'
+alias git-push-to-temp='git branch -D temp; git checkout -b temp; git push origin temp -uf; git checkout -'
+alias gptemp='git-push-to-temp'
+
+# code/test/linter run and build commands
+alias bel='bundle exec standardrb'
+alias bet='bundle exec rspec'
+alias lintjs='npx prettier --write'
+alias prl='poetry run black'
+alias prt='poetry run pytest'
+
+# containerization
+alias docker=podman
+
 # misc commands
 alias pdt='ping -c 2 drinkingtea.net'
 alias ppw='ping -c 2 pinewoods.xyz'
 alias weather='curl "wttr.in/dfw?2&F"'
 alias shrug='echo "¯\\_(ツ)_/¯"'
 
-# source extensions and system-specific files
-[[ -a "$ZDOTDIR/zsh-general-dev" ]] && . "$ZDOTDIR/zsh-general-dev"
-
 # programming and language setup
 [[ -n $(command -v mise) ]] && eval "$(mise activate zsh)"
 export DEVKITARM=/opt/devkitpro/devkitARM
diff --git a/src_files/.config/zsh/zsh-general-dev b/src_files/.config/zsh/zsh-general-dev
deleted file mode 100644
index 0e9424e..0000000
--- a/src_files/.config/zsh/zsh-general-dev
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-# set env vars, path updates, etc
-[[ -a $HOME/.local-box-vars ]] && . $HOME/.local-box-vars
-
-# login shortcuts
-alias assume="source assume"
-alias login-aws='aws sso login --profile'
-alias login-aws-id-list="grep sso_account_id $HOME/.aws/config"
-
-# git stuff
-alias gfo='git fetch origin'
-alias gfl='git fetch origin; git log'
-alias gpo='git pull origin'
-alias gppo='git push origin'
-alias gst='git status'
-alias git-push-to-temp='git branch -D temp; git checkout -b temp; git push origin temp -uf; git checkout -'
-alias gptemp='git-push-to-temp'
-
-# code/test/linter run and build commands
-alias bel='bundle exec standardrb'
-alias bet='bundle exec rspec'
-alias lintjs='npx prettier --write'
-alias prl='poetry run black'
-alias prt='poetry run pytest'
-
-# containerization
-alias docker=podman
diff --git a/src_files/shell/profile b/src_files/shell/profile
index e3f0c4b..81a5c96 100644
--- a/src_files/shell/profile
+++ b/src_files/shell/profile
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ export ZDOTDIR="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zsh" # may already be set, set anyway
 export GIT_EDITOR="$EDITOR"
 
 # obsidian
-export OBSIDIAN_WORKSPACES_TO_CONFIGURE=("$DIR_NOTES")
+export OBSIDIAN_WORKSPACES_TO_CONFIGURE="$DIR_NOTES," # ,-delimitted list of dirs
 
 # reaper
 export DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_SHARED="$DIR_USER_OPT/reaper-portable/shared"