I wear entirely too much black. I don't know how I managed to get so many pieces of black clothing in my wardrobe, but I have. Most of the time I pair it with some color, usually in the red or blue family, but damn! You'd think I was constantly in mourning.

And to think, when I was a pre-teen, I would never wear black. I hated it with a passion. I disliked its funereal associations. I think that says more about my state of mind at that time of my life than how I'm feeling these days.

(I hadn't dealt with the premature passing of my sister yet, so any reminders of death were avoided as much as possible.)

It's time to inject more color into my wardrobe. I'm not much of a pastel girl, but I love jewel tones. Time to go shopping!

You may have noticed that I don't like to bitch and moan about my job too much. At least not here. If that's what others want to do, that's fine. A number of people do so in a very entertaining manner. It's just not my style.

I've got to get the hell out. Everyday I walk into that soul-numbing building, it's all I can do not to run screaming right back out. I've never really liked the actual work, but I closely worked with some great people. That made it bearable.

Only one of those folks is still in my department. Between re-organizations and lay-offs, everyone else is far, far away. Luckily the person that's still around is the one I work the closest with, and we support each other against the bullshit we have to deal with.

The rest of the department isn't too bad, I suppose. But our manager is just someone I'm not very fond of.

Time to take advantage of the revolving doors that were just installed in the building. Heh, perfect timing, considering that folks have been leaving the department in droves. Just last week we had three people leave, including the top chief honcho. This guy has been with the Division for many, many years. His last day was today. He's off to be the President of a tv-type company that's been around for a number of years.

To show how valued my co-worker and I are, we were not on the invite list for Honcho's good-bye party on Friday, despite the blanket invitation to everyone from Honcho at the meeting in which he announced his resignation. This is just the latest in several such slights.

I guess that's what we get for not kissing ass.

And now what you've all been waiting for:

TODAY'S ROB RUMMEL-HUDSON STALKPIC

Nothing like a big-ass scary roller-coaster ride with big brother to bring out adorable manliness in a guy.

John Scalzi's Whatever Column
OK, I lied. John's first for a reason. He started me on most of these blasted journals, which led me to the others. If you're looking for someone to blame, John's the guy. Darn his enjoyable writing!

The Daily Bleat
James (not Jim, you philistine) is one of them perfeshunale riten' guys, and I can sure see why people pay him to do this stuff. A day without a fresh Bleat is like a day without, well, a fresh Bleat.

Man About Murfreesboro
Mike writes an entertaining journal which veers from baby stuff to politics to particle physics. Frequently in the same entry. Definitely worth a look.

chuck'stake
A fellow Valley resident, Chuck tells of life as a husband/father/struggling screenwriter with a certain wit. Oh, and ask him about the Booth.

Stitches in Time
As Chuck's wife, Beth not only provides another eminently readable viewpoint on family matters, she also talks about her own concerns about life, love and the shark infested waters of the gene pool.

The Diary Thing
Rick is a photographer living in Toronto. He's taken some beautiful photos and his writing, like his photography, is often evocative, sometimes moody, but always interesting.

The Book of Rob
Voted "One of the Two On-line Journalists Carol Would Like To Run Away With If They Weren't So Happily Married and Living in the Midwest" (James is the other), Rob writes a funny and often touching journal about his beloved wife, life as a new daddy and working for a faceless Monolith.

Evaporation
Another Southern Californian, Steve's entries are infrequent (yes, I know, pot, kettle, black) but well worth the wait. Plus Chuck and Beth have been known to turn up (and vice versa).

The Mighty Kymm's Hedgehog Tales
The grande dame of on-line journals, Kymm's Tales are conversational, entertaining, and suck you in the way no one else's can.

squishy
Pamie's part of a Austin comedy troupe and one of the leading on-line journalers. There's no mystery as to why, with her hilarious observations and conversations.

Atropine:saper vedere
Unfortunately, Elizabeth has said goodbye to journaling, at least for now. But both incarnations of Atropine and a previous journal, Scr@wls, are worth digging into the archives.

Bad Hair Days
An attorney in Sacramento who loves gardening, doesn't love attorney-ing, and actually enjoys waking up when most people are dead to the world. Beth's journal is a great read and she has a weblog that pulls together some mighty interesting links. Plus she's fighting with Pamie for the love of Stee. (Why do I hear men chanting "catfight"?)

plaintive wail
Stee may think the chicks dig him due to his funny, edgy entries detailing the life and viewpoints of an actor/screenwriter/Evil Media Conglomerate drone, but it's really left column for whom the ladies swoon.

Naked Eye Journal
Catherine's thought-provoking journal is more than just a journal. It's a one-of-a-kind site that defies pigeon-holing. Visually compelling.