In past years, this is about when I'd start rolling out posts looking back at the events of the previous twelve months. My KCRW commentary on Christmas Day talked about how I enjoy gathering together those looks back and some of the notable passings of 2009.

This week, though, I'm neck deep in some much-needed updating of the site's inner workings. I'm enjoying this chore — been looking forward to some new features for a long time — and also a little nervous that a solid two weeks off from UCLA (courtesy of the Legislature) may not be enough to get it done. So I'm going to press on with the update rather than look back.

If you want to revisit 2009, the obits are here and the archives make it pretty easy to scan my posts by month or category. (Here was the 2008 review.) And stay tuned for a freshened-up LA Observed.