Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and New Year. I'm back from Mexico feeling refreshed and recharged with a renewed focus on what's important in 2009.

I also have a new source of inspiration.

Upon landing in Phoenix last night I received some really sad news. Jody Stiely, a dear friend from San Francisco/Menlo Park, passed away on Friday while vacationing in Nepal.

Jody was my ex-boss from Oracle, the only one who took a chance on a kid returning from living in Argentina for a year. We hit it off instantly because our paths had crossed in Argentina, Kenya, and Squaw Valley.

Over the last three years she became much more to me than a manager. She was my professional mentor, my skiing and drinking buddy, and one of my very good friends. She was a passionate traveler, and badass skier and an overall incredible person who had a lust for life and adventure unmatched by almost anyone I know. 

Surely, Jody is best remembered with a huge smile on her face. Here's a photo capturing exactly how she made people feel -- that life ought to be full of fun and laughter, and as many amazing moments as we can possibly muster.

She will be deeply missed by all of the hundreds of friends, whose lives she touched in her short time on this planet. I'll miss you, Jody and I'll never forget you.

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