diff --git a/rodo.rkt b/rodo.rkt
index 2afc602..223592b 100755
--- a/rodo.rkt
+++ b/rodo.rkt
@@ -1,20 +1,30 @@
 #! /usr/bin/env racket
 #lang racket/base
 
+(define (display-hash hash-list key)
+  (displayln (hash-ref hash-list key)))
+
 (define message (hash 
-                  'help-message "For usage type `rodo -h` or `rodo --help`"
-                  'file-not-found ".rodo file was not found in your home directory. Would you like to create it?"
+                  'help-messages "For usage type `rodo -h` or `rodo --help`"
+                  'file-not-found "Rodo has not been setup in your home directory\nWould you like to set it up now? [y/n]"
                   'file-exists ".rodo file exists"
                   'item-added "Item added"
                   'item-removed "item removed"
                   'initializing "Initializing rodo in your home directory"))
 
+; just figuring out stuff here
+(define (prompt-user prompt-message)
+  (display-hash message prompt-message)
+  (let ([user-input (read-line)])
+    (cond
+      [(member user-input '("yes" "Yes" "y" "Y"))  
+       (displayln "You chose yes")]
+      [else 
+        (displayln "you chose something else")])))
+
 (define (todo-list-exist?)
   (if (file-exists? (expand-user-path "~/.rodo"))
-    ; the displayln here removes the quotes from appearing
-    ; in the stdout. from ".rodo file exists" -> .rodo file exists
-    ; not sure if this is the cleanest way to do so
-    (displayln (hash-ref message 'file-exists))
-    (displayln (hash-ref message 'file-not-found))))
+    (display-hash message 'file-exists)
+    (prompt-user 'file-not-found)))
 
 (todo-list-exist?)