diff --git a/python_mommy_venv/__init__.py b/python_mommy_venv/__init__.py
index 9f49eea..641a687 100644
--- a/python_mommy_venv/__init__.py
+++ b/python_mommy_venv/__init__.py
@@ -3,8 +3,7 @@ import sys
 from typing import Optional
 import json
 
-from .responses import COMPILED_CONFIG_FILE
-from .static import colors
+from .static import colors, get_compiled_config_file
 
 
 def get_response_from_situation(situation: str, colorize: Optional[bool] = None):
@@ -12,7 +11,7 @@ def get_response_from_situation(situation: str, colorize: Optional[bool] = None)
         colorize = sys.stdout.isatty()
 
     # get message
-    config = json.loads(COMPILED_CONFIG_FILE.read_text())
+    config = json.loads(get_compiled_config_file().read_text())
     existing_moods = list(config["moods"].keys())
     template_options = config["moods"][random.choice(existing_moods)][situation]
     template: str = random.choice(template_options)
diff --git a/python_mommy_venv/__main__.py b/python_mommy_venv/__main__.py
index b523996..7f49976 100644
--- a/python_mommy_venv/__main__.py
+++ b/python_mommy_venv/__main__.py
@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@ from pathlib import Path
 import stat
 import subprocess
 import logging
-
-import toml
+import json
 
 from . import get_response
 from .responses import compile_config
+from .static import IS_VENV, VENV_DIRECTORY, CONFIG_DIRECTORY, COMPILED_CONFIG_FILE_NAME
 
 logging.basicConfig(
-    format=' %(message)s',
+    format='%(message)s',
     force=True,
 )
 
@@ -130,13 +130,21 @@ def install_pip_hook(path: Path):
 
 
 def mommify_venv():
-    compile_config()
+    compile_local = False
+    compiled_base_dir = VENV_DIRECTORY if compile_local else CONFIG_DIRECTORY
+    compiled_config_file = compiled_base_dir / COMPILED_CONFIG_FILE_NAME
 
-    v = ".venv"
-    if len(sys.argv) > 1:
-        v = sys.argv[1]
+    compiled = compile_config()
+    mommy_logger.info("mommy writes its moods in %s", compiled_config_file)
+    serious_logger.info("writing compiled config file to %s", compiled_config_file)
+    compiled_base_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    with compiled_config_file.open("w") as f:
+        json.dump(compiled, f, indent=4)
 
-    bin_path = Path(v, "bin")
+    serious_logger.info("")
+    mommy_logger.info("")
+
+    bin_path = VENV_DIRECTORY / "bin"
     bin_path = bin_path.resolve()
 
     mommy_logger.info("mommy looks in %s to mess your system up~ <33", str(bin_path))
@@ -148,10 +156,10 @@ def mommify_venv():
         if path.is_symlink():
             # could be python interpreter
             # check for both just to be more expressive
-            if name.startswith("inner_") or not name.startswith("python"):
+            if name.startswith("inner_"):
                 continue
             
-            if subprocess.run([str(path), '-c', '"exit()"']) != 0:
+            if subprocess.run([str(path), '-c', '"exit(0)"']).returncode != 0:
                 continue
 
             wrap_interpreter(path)
@@ -162,6 +170,3 @@ def mommify_venv():
                 continue
 
             install_pip_hook(path)
-
-        serious_logger.info("")
-        mommy_logger.info("")
diff --git a/python_mommy_venv/responses.py b/python_mommy_venv/responses.py
index 571d295..1791547 100644
--- a/python_mommy_venv/responses.py
+++ b/python_mommy_venv/responses.py
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ import requests
 
 from .static import get_config_file
 
+mommy_logger = logging.getLogger("mommy")
+serious_logger = logging.getLogger("serious")
 
-logger = logging.Logger(__name__)
 PREFIX = "MOMMY"
 
 RESPONSES_URL = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/diamondburned/go-mommy/refs/heads/main/responses.json"
@@ -68,9 +69,8 @@ def compile_config(disable_requests: bool = False) -> dict:
     data = json.loads(RESPONSES_FILE.read_text())
     
     if not disable_requests:
-        print("mommy downloads newest responses for her girl~")
-        print(RESPONSES_URL)
-        print()
+        mommy_logger.info("mommy downloads newest responses for her girl~ %s", RESPONSES_URL)
+        serious_logger.info("downloading cargo mommy responses: %s", RESPONSES_URL)
         r = requests.get(RESPONSES_URL)
         data = r.json()
 
@@ -103,7 +103,18 @@ def compile_config(disable_requests: bool = False) -> dict:
     for mood in config["mood"]:
         if mood not in mood_definitions:
             supported_moods_str = ", ".join(mood_definitions.keys())
-            print(f"{random.choice(config['role'])} doesn't know how to feel {mood}... {random.choice(config['pronoun'])} moods are {supported_moods_str}")
+            mommy_logger.error(
+                "%s doesn't know how to feel %s... %s moods are %s",
+                random.choice(config['role']),
+                mood,
+                random.choice(config['pronoun']),
+                supported_moods_str,
+            )
+            serious_logger.error(
+                "mood '%s' doesn't exist. moods are %s",
+                mood,
+                supported_moods_str,
+            )
             exit(1)
 
     # compile
diff --git a/python_mommy_venv/static.py b/python_mommy_venv/static.py
index 8e523a5..c265f66 100644
--- a/python_mommy_venv/static.py
+++ b/python_mommy_venv/static.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 import os
 import logging
 from typing import Optional
+import sys
 
 
 logger = logging.Logger(__name__)
@@ -81,3 +82,19 @@ def get_config_file() -> Optional[Path]:
     for f in config_files:
         if f.exists():
             return f
+
+
+IS_VENV = sys.prefix != sys.base_prefix
+VENV_DIRECTORY = Path(sys.prefix)
+
+def get_compiled_config_file() -> Path:
+    compiled_config_files = [
+        VENV_DIRECTORY / "compiled-mommy.json",
+        CONFIG_DIRECTORY / "compiled-mommy.json",
+    ]
+
+    for f in compiled_config_files:
+        if f.exists():
+            return f
+        
+    raise Exception("couldn't find compiled config file")