diff --git a/editors/vim/vimrc b/editors/vim/vimrc
index 63c47b0..7ee39a5 100644
--- a/editors/vim/vimrc
+++ b/editors/vim/vimrc
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ let g:vimwiki_list = [{'path': '~/vimwiki/',
             \ 'syntax': 'markdown', 'ext': '.md'}]
 let g:vimwiki_global_ext = 0 
 
+" calcurse markdown support
+autocmd BufRead,BufNewFile /tmp/calcurse* set filetype=markdown
+autocmd BufRead,BufNewFile ~/.local/share/calcurse/notes/* set filetype=markdown
 
 " airline settings
 let g:airline_powerline_fonts = 1
diff --git a/tui/calcurse/conf b/tui/calcurse/conf
index 34c4fab..e5200cb 100644
--- a/tui/calcurse/conf
+++ b/tui/calcurse/conf
@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
 appearance.calendarview=monthly
 appearance.compactpanels=no
-appearance.defaultpanel=calendar
-appearance.layout=1
+appearance.defaultpanel=todo
+appearance.layout=5
 appearance.headerline=yes
 appearance.eventseparator=yes
 appearance.dayseparator=yes
 appearance.emptyline=yes
-appearance.emptyday=--
+appearance.emptyday=No Events
 appearance.notifybar=yes
-appearance.sidebarwidth=0
-appearance.theme=red on default
+appearance.sidebarwidth=2
+appearance.theme=blue on default
 appearance.todoview=hide-completed
 appearance.headingpos=right-justified
 daemon.enable=no