I met Keith (the aforementioned birthday boy) when I was working at Coopers & Lybrand right out college. He is an attorney with an LLM in tax and had just left a law firm to come to C&L (which is an accounting firm). The group that Keith and I were a part of still stands as the most unique, fun, special group of people we have ever worked with. When C&L merged (i.e. was taken over) by another firm, our little group of about 7-10 people broke up. A few moved to Atlanta with one of the partners, a few moved to other firms and only a couple stayed at the newly merged firm. But we all still keep in touch regularly and all agree that was the best 2 years of our working lives.
This 40th birthday plan was hatched 10 years ago on Keith's 30th birthday. We took him to a piano bar in Dallas' West End and decided there that when Keith turned 40 we would all fly to Germany for Octoberfest. Well, in 10 years people have gotten married, had kids, etc etc etc so Germany isn't as feasible as we thought at the time as carefree, irresponsible youth. So, the location was changed to Las Vegas where most people can catch a cheap flight and stay at whatever hotel they wish. Friday night we are paying homage to Octoberfest by going to Hofbrauhaus. The rest of the weekend will be spent in Keith's penthouse suite that he has reserved where there will be a catered celebration Saturday night. That's a long way from the dive piano bar where we spent his 30th birthday! Here are pictures of a few people from the C&L gang at Pat O'Brien's on a trip to New Orleans in 1998. In the first one, I am 2nd from the right with Keith's (striped shirt) hand on my face. The second picture is of Keith and Jeff.
