diff --git a/menu.lua b/menu.lua
index 45e1b0d..c49a4b0 100644
--- a/menu.lua
+++ b/menu.lua
@@ -2,12 +2,52 @@ function init_menu()
    -- add pause menu items first
    menuitem(1, "save game", save_game)
    menuitem(2, "erase save data", clear_save)
+
+   menu_cursor = 0
+
+   menu_map = {
+      [0] = nil,
+      [1] = nil,
+      [2] = save_game
+   }
 end
 
 function menu_input()
-   menu_mode = false -- todo: implement an actual menu
+   if btnp(5) then
+      menu_mode = false
+   end
+
+    -- todo: implement an actual menu control
 end
 
 function draw_menu()
+   menu_draw_inventory()
 
+   menu_draw_options()
+end
+
+function menu_draw_inventory()
+   rectfill(0,0,64,64,1)
+   rect(0,0,64,64,5)
+
+   local inv_cursor = 0
+   for k,v in pairs(inventory) do
+      if v > 0 then
+         spr(k, 8, 8+inv_cursor*8)
+         print(v, 18, 8+inv_cursor*8, 15)
+      end
+   end
+end
+
+function menu_draw_options()
+   rectfill(80, 0, 127, 64, 1)
+   rect(80, 0, 127, 64, 5)
+   cursor(96, 8)
+   color(15)
+   print("eat")
+   print("build")
+   print("save")
+
+   -- cursor
+   print("->", 84, 8+menu_cursor*6)
 end
diff --git a/player.lua b/player.lua
index 6a1a02e..8af8553 100644
--- a/player.lua
+++ b/player.lua
@@ -19,6 +19,24 @@ function init_player()
    facing_v = 1
    facing_h = 0
 
+   -- constants for item IDs. Doubles as sprite indices.
+   item_mushroom = 64
+   item_cactus_meat = 65
+   item_wood = 66
+   item_cactus_flower = 80
+   item_berries = 81
+   item_cactus_meal = 66
+
+   -- inventory is a map of item ids to counts
+   inventory = {
+      item_mushroom = 0,
+      item_cactus_meat = 0,
+      item_wood = 0,
+      item_cactus_flower = 0,
+      item_berries = 0,
+      item_cactus_meal = 0
+   }
+
    -- this is a constant for looking up player sprites by facing
    player_lookup = {
       [0] = {