diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index c92b578..d0957d5 100755
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#! /usr/bin/env python3
+#! /home/gum/p/break/.venv/bin/python
 # vim:fenc=utf-8
 #
 # Copyright © 2023 gum <gum@gums-lappy>
@@ -12,34 +12,23 @@ Play my playlist every few minutes.
 import sys
 import threading
 from argparse import ArgumentParser
+from datetime import datetime
 from select import select
 from subprocess import DEVNULL, Popen, run
 from termios import TCIOFLUSH, tcflush
 from time import sleep, time
 
-
-class StoppableThread(threading.Thread):
-    """Thread class with a stop() method. The thread itself has to check
-    regularly for the stopped() condition."""
-
-    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        super(StoppableThread, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        self._stop_event = threading.Event()
-
-    def stop(self):
-        self._stop_event.set()
-
-    def stopped(self):
-        return self._stop_event.is_set()
+WINDOW_TITLE = ""
 
 
-def generate_interval(interval: int):
+def generate_interval(work_time: int, break_time: int):
     """
     Generate the interval between plays in seconds.
     """
-    if interval:
+    if work_time and break_time:
         while True:
-            yield int(interval)
+            yield work_time
+            yield break_time
     else:
         # pomodoro scheme
         while True:
@@ -60,24 +49,103 @@ def play_playlist(playlist):
 
 
 def wait_or_enter(duration, i3_focus=False):
+    """
+    A timer that will stop if the user presses enter.
+    The i3_focus flag will focus the i3 window with the title "break" to prevent the user from doing other things while the timer lasts.
+    """
     stop = ""
     start = time()
+    if i3_focus:
+        run(
+            ["i3-msg", f'[title="{WINDOW_TITLE}"] focus, fullscreen'],
+            stdout=DEVNULL,
+            stderr=DEVNULL,
+        )
     while not stop and (time() - start < duration):  # Run until flag is True
         if i3_focus:
-            run(["i3-msg", '[title=\"break\"] focus'])
+            run(
+                ["i3-msg", f'[title="{WINDOW_TITLE}"] focus'],
+                stdout=DEVNULL,
+                stderr=DEVNULL,
+            )
         stop, _, _ = select([sys.stdin], [], [], 1)
-    tcflush(sys.stdin, TCIOFLUSH)
+
+    if i3_focus:
+        run(
+            ["i3-msg", f'[title="{WINDOW_TITLE}"] move to scratchpad'],
+            stdout=DEVNULL,
+            stderr=DEVNULL,
+        )
+
+    if stop:
+        return sys.stdin.readline().strip()
+    else:
+        tcflush(sys.stdin, TCIOFLUSH)
+        return
 
 
-def main(playlist, interval):
-    for i in generate_interval(interval):
-        play = play_playlist(playlist)
-        print(f"playlist playing, press enter to start {i // 60} minute interval")
-        wait_or_enter(float("inf"), i3_focus=True)
-        play.terminate()
-        print("...")
+def write_break_message(msg):
+    today = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
+    minute = datetime.now().strftime("%H:%M")
+    msg = f"{minute} BREAK {msg}"
+    with open(f"/home/gum/z/{today}.md", "a") as f:
+        print(msg)
+        f.write(msg + "\n")
+
+
+def main(playlist, work_time, break_time):
+    interval = generate_interval(work_time, break_time)
+
+    print(
+        "testing playlist, press enter to start if you hear the playlist",
+        end="",
+        flush=True,
+    )
+    play = play_playlist(playlist)
+    wait_or_enter(float("inf"), i3_focus=True)
+    play.terminate()
+
+    while True:
+        # work
+        i = next(interval)
+        print("work for", i // 60, "minutes", end="", flush=True)
         wait_or_enter(i)
-        print("next")
+
+        # break
+        i = next(interval)
+        print("break for", i // 60, "minutes", end=" ", flush=True)
+        msg = wait_or_enter(i, i3_focus=bool(WINDOW_TITLE))
+
+        # start music to signal the end of a break.
+        if not msg:
+            print("> ", end="", flush=True)
+            play = play_playlist(playlist)
+            msg = wait_or_enter(float("inf"), i3_focus=bool(WINDOW_TITLE))
+            play.terminate()
+
+        write_break_message(msg)
+
+
+def timer(playlist, duration):
+    print(
+        "testing playlist, press enter to start if you hear the playlist",
+        end="",
+        flush=True,
+    )
+    play = play_playlist(playlist)
+    wait_or_enter(float("inf"), i3_focus=bool(WINDOW_TITLE))
+    play.terminate()
+
+    # work
+    print("wait for", duration, "seconds")
+    msg = wait_or_enter(duration, i3_focus=bool(WINDOW_TITLE))
+
+    # start music to signal the end of a break.
+    if msg is None:
+        print("timer is over, press enter to quit", end="", flush=True)
+        play = play_playlist(playlist)
+        wait_or_enter(float("inf"), i3_focus=bool(WINDOW_TITLE))
+        play.terminate()
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
@@ -88,11 +156,33 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         help="path to the folder with the playlist to play",
     )
     parser.add_argument(
-        "--interval",
+        "--work-time",
         default=None,
-        type=str,
+        type=int,
         help="Interval between plays in minutes, if empty I use the pomodoro scheme.",
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--break-time",
+        default=None,
+        type=int,
+        help="Interval between plays in minutes, if empty I use the pomodoro scheme.",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--window-title",
+        default=None,
+        type=str,
+        help="window title of this program, to prevent the user from doing other things during a break.",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--once",
+        default=None,
+        type=int,
+        help="set true for this to be a single timer",
+    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
+    WINDOW_TITLE = args.window_title
 
-    main(args.playlist, args.interval)
+    if args.once:
+        timer(args.playlist, args.once)
+    else:
+        main(args.playlist, args.work_time, args.break_time)