diff --git a/cmd/themis-server/main.go b/cmd/themis-server/main.go
index 1617baa..490d310 100644
--- a/cmd/themis-server/main.go
+++ b/cmd/themis-server/main.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/bwmarrin/discordgo"
 	_ "github.com/mattn/go-sqlite3"
-	"github.com/rs/zerolog"
 	"github.com/rs/zerolog/log"
 
 	"go.wperron.io/themis"
@@ -39,9 +38,6 @@ func main() {
 	ctx, cancel := signal.NotifyContext(context.Background(), syscall.SIGTERM, syscall.SIGKILL, syscall.SIGINT)
 	defer cancel()
 
-	// TODO(wperron) remove before merging
-	zerolog.SetGlobalLevel(zerolog.DebugLevel)
-
 	flag.Parse()
 
 	err := touchDbFile(*dbFile)
@@ -166,11 +162,26 @@ func main() {
 				},
 			},
 		},
+
+		// Scheduling commands
 		{
 			Name:        "schedule",
 			Description: "Get the schedule for the following weeks.",
 			Type:        discordgo.ChatApplicationCommand,
 		},
+		{
+			Name:        "absent",
+			Description: "Mark yourself as absent for a session",
+			Type:        discordgo.ChatApplicationCommand,
+			Options: []*discordgo.ApplicationCommandOption{
+				{
+					Name:        "date",
+					Required:    false,
+					Description: "Date of the session you can't make it to. YYYY-MM-DD format.",
+					Type:        discordgo.ApplicationCommandOptionString,
+				},
+			},
+		},
 	}
 	handlers := map[string]Handler{
 		"info": func(s *discordgo.Session, i *discordgo.InteractionCreate) {
@@ -473,7 +484,11 @@ func main() {
 
 			sb := strings.Builder{}
 			keys := make([]string, 0, len(sched))
-			for k := range sched {
+			for k, abs := range sched {
+				for i, a := range abs {
+					a = fmt.Sprintf("<@%s>", a)
+					abs[i] = a
+				}
 				keys = append(keys, k)
 			}
 			sort.Strings(keys)
@@ -483,7 +498,7 @@ func main() {
 				if len(sched[d]) == 0 {
 					sb.WriteString("Everyone is available!\n")
 				} else {
-					sb.WriteString(strings.Join(sched[d], ", ") + " won't be able to make it")
+					sb.WriteString(themis.FormatStringSlice(sched[d]) + " won't be able to make it\n")
 				}
 			}
 
@@ -496,6 +511,71 @@ func main() {
 				log.Error().Err(err).Msg("failed to respond to interaction")
 			}
 		},
+		"absent": func(s *discordgo.Session, i *discordgo.InteractionCreate) {
+			var rawDate string
+			if len(i.ApplicationCommandData().Options) == 0 {
+				rawDate = themis.NextMonday().Format(time.DateOnly)
+			} else {
+				rawDate = i.ApplicationCommandData().Options[0].StringValue()
+			}
+
+			date, err := time.Parse(time.DateOnly, rawDate)
+			if err != nil {
+				if err := s.InteractionRespond(i.Interaction, &discordgo.InteractionResponse{
+					Type: discordgo.InteractionResponseChannelMessageWithSource,
+					Data: &discordgo.InteractionResponseData{
+						Content: "failed to parse provided date, make sure to use the YYYY-MM-DD format.",
+					},
+				}); err != nil {
+					log.Error().Err(err).Msg("failed to respond to interaction")
+				}
+			}
+
+			if date.Before(time.Now()) {
+				if err := s.InteractionRespond(i.Interaction, &discordgo.InteractionResponse{
+					Type: discordgo.InteractionResponseChannelMessageWithSource,
+					Data: &discordgo.InteractionResponseData{
+						Content: "The date must be some time in the future.",
+					},
+				}); err != nil {
+					log.Error().Err(err).Msg("failed to respond to interaction")
+				}
+			}
+
+			if date.Weekday() != time.Monday {
+				if err := s.InteractionRespond(i.Interaction, &discordgo.InteractionResponse{
+					Type: discordgo.InteractionResponseChannelMessageWithSource,
+					Data: &discordgo.InteractionResponseData{
+						Content: "The date you provided is not a Monday.",
+					},
+				}); err != nil {
+					log.Error().Err(err).Msg("failed to respond to interaction")
+				}
+				// TODO(wperron) suggest Mondays before and after?
+			}
+
+			userId := i.Member.User.ID
+			if err := store.AddAbsence(ctx, date, userId); err != nil {
+				if err := s.InteractionRespond(i.Interaction, &discordgo.InteractionResponse{
+					Type: discordgo.InteractionResponseChannelMessageWithSource,
+					Data: &discordgo.InteractionResponseData{
+						Content: "something went wrong recording your absence, check logs for more info.",
+					},
+				}); err != nil {
+					log.Error().Err(err).Msg("failed to respond to interaction")
+				}
+			}
+
+			err = s.InteractionRespond(i.Interaction, &discordgo.InteractionResponse{
+				Type: discordgo.InteractionResponseChannelMessageWithSource,
+				Data: &discordgo.InteractionResponseData{
+					Content: "Okey dokey.",
+				},
+			})
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Error().Err(err).Msg("failed to respond to interaction")
+			}
+		},
 	}
 
 	registerHandlers(discord, handlers)
diff --git a/notify.go b/notify.go
index 67f6c72..2a142a7 100644
--- a/notify.go
+++ b/notify.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func (n *Notifier) Start(ctx context.Context) {
 		case <-ticker.C:
 			n.c <- struct{}{}
 		}
-		time.Sleep(time.Hour)
+		time.Sleep(time.Second)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -63,6 +63,6 @@ func (n *Notifier) NotifyFunc(ctx context.Context, f func()) {
 		case <-n.c:
 			f()
 		}
-		time.Sleep(5 * time.Minute)
+		time.Sleep(time.Second)
 	}
 }