diff --git a/extension.js b/extension.js
index 7b7530a..6336e7c 100644
--- a/extension.js
+++ b/extension.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ function activate(context) {
             vscode.window.showErrorMessage("next-note: failed to make directory: "+basedir);
             return;
         }
-        openNote(basedir +"/"+ formatWeekFilename(currentWeek()));
+        openNote(basedir +"/"+ formatWeekFilename(currentWeek()), true);
     }));
 
     context.subscriptions.push(vscode.commands.registerTextEditorCommand('extension.nextNoteOpenNextWeek', function () {
@@ -68,13 +68,18 @@ exports.deactivate = deactivate;
  * opens filepath in the current window, creating the file if needed
  * 
  * @param {String} filepath is the path of the new note file
+ * @param {Boolean} insertDate whether to insert the date stamp on creation
  * @return {undefined} 
  */
-function openNote(filepath) {
+function openNote(filepath, insertDate) {
     fs.access(filepath, fs.constants.R_OK | fs.constants.W_OK, (err) => {
         if (err) {
             try {
-                fs.writeFileSync(filepath, dateLine());
+                if (insertDate) {
+                    fs.writeFileSync(filepath, dateLine());
+                } else {
+                    fs.writeFileSync(filepath, "");
+                }
             } catch (e) {
                 vscode.window.showErrorMessage("next-note: failed to create "+ filepath);
                 console.error(e);
@@ -94,7 +99,7 @@ function openNote(filepath) {
  * @returns {String}
  */
 function getBasedir() {
-    var basedir = process.env["NOTEDIR"];
+    var basedir = process.env["NOTEDR"];
 
     if (!basedir) {
         basedir = process.env["HOME"]+"/Notes";
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index f10f0b0..00da06b 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
         "commands": [
             {
                 "command": "extension.nextNoteOpenPreviousWeek",
-                "title": "NextNote: Open Current Week"
+                "title": "NextNote: Open Previous Week"
             },
             {
                 "command": "extension.nextNoteOpenCurrentWeek",
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
             },
             {
                 "command": "extension.nextNoteOpenNextWeek",
-                "title": "NextNote: Open Current Week"
+                "title": "NextNote: Open Next Week"
             },
             {
                 "command": "extension.nextNoteInsertDate",