diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 6c69c87..488e752 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -1,10 +1,48 @@
 # smsbb 👼
 
-✨  DIY sms announce lists for you and yours ✨
+✨ DIY sms announce lists for you and yours ✨
 
 ## norms for working on this repo
+
 - work in a branch
 - branch names should use the format `username/thing-you-are-doing`
-	- for example `git checkout -b maren/update-readme-3`
+  - for example `git checkout -b maren/update-readme-3`
 - don't worry about tidy commits! just keep your work in a branch
 - open a PR and review with someone synchronously before merging to main
+
+## getting started real fast
+
+Here's what to do if you haven't already set up your `GOPATH`:
+
+1. Run `go env` and figure out how your Go installation is configured
+   with respect to your `GOPATH`:
+
+   ```shell
+   $ go env | grep GOPATH
+   GOPATH='/home/you/go'
+   ```
+
+2. Set up this repository within your `GOPATH`:
+
+   ```shell
+   # If GOPATH is /home/you/go, then...
+   $ cd ~/go && mkdir -p pkg/git.bunk.computer/bunk/smsbb && cd pkg/git.bunk.computer/bunk
+   $ git clone https://git.bunk.computer/bunk/smsbb
+   $ cd smsbb
+   ```
+
+3. Get your Twilio Account SID and Auth Token and store them in the following environment
+   variables:
+
+   ```shell
+   $ export SMSBB_ACCT_SID="..." # Your Twilio Account SID goes here
+   $ export SMSBB_AUTH_TOKEN="..." # Your Twilio Auth Token goes here
+   ```
+
+4. Run `smsbb`:
+
+   ```shell
+   # In this example, +1 (828) 555-0123 is the "from" address, and
+   # +1 (828) 555-4567 is the "to" address
+   $ go run smsbb.go "+18285550123" "+18285554567" "This is your first message\!"
+   ```