i think i get this now

config/xmobar/xmobarrc

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ Config {
    -- layout
    , sepChar =  "%"   -- delineator between plugin names and straight text
    , alignSep = "}{"  -- separator between left-right alignment
-   , template = "%StdinReader% | %battery% | %multicpu% | %memory% }{ %vol% | %date% | %kbd% %_XMONAD_TRAYPAD%" 
+   , template = "%XMonadLog% | %battery% | %multicpu% | %memory% }{ %vol% | %date% | %kbd% %_XMONAD_TRAYPAD%" 
 
    -- general behavior
    , lowerOnStart =     True    -- send to bottom of window stack on start
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ Config {
                              , "--high"     , "darkred"
                              ] 10
         -- workspaces
-        , Run StdinReader 
+        , Run XMonadLog 
 
         -- cpu activity monitor
         , Run MultiCpu       [ "--template" , "Cpu: <total0>%|<total1>%"

config/xmonad/xmonad.hs

@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ myModMask       = mod4Mask
 -- > workspaces = ["web", "irc", "code" ] ++ map show [4..9]
 --
 -- myWorkspaces    = ["1","2","3","4","5","6","7","8","9"]
-myWorkspaces    = ["web","irc","dev","4","5","6"]
+myWorkspaces    = ["web","dev","irc","4","5","6"]
 
 -- Border colors for unfocused and focused windows, respectively.
 --
@@ -257,6 +257,15 @@ myLogHook h = dynamicLogWithPP $ def {
                                     ppOrder = \(ws:_) -> [ws]
                                   }
 
+xmobarFormat = def {
+            ppCurrent = xmobarColor "black" "white"
+            ppOutput = hPutStrLn h,
+            ppExtras = [],
+            ppOrder = \(ws:_) -> [ws]
+             
+}
+
+xmobarProp = statusBarProp "xmobar" (pure xmobarFormat)
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 -- Startup hook