Farewell 2011!

This will be the last Hollywood Four blog post for 2011. The video below contains some picture memories from December 2011. Please check back on January 1, 2012 for a fresh, newly designed hollywood-four.blogspot.com website ... oh, and we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

A Trio of Christmas Parties

As is normally the case, the Hollywood Four celebrated Christmas three times this past week. First we had our own Hollywood Four Family Christmas last Friday; then the Ott Family Christmas in Brighton, MI on Saturday; and finally the Frederick Family Christmas in Big Rapids, MI on Monday. It is always exhausting, but the kids make out pretty well (and the weather was very cooperative). The family time is nice, but it's also good to return home and get ready for the New Year.

Recent Hockey Highlights

Andrew had hockey practice last night but is off now for a full week with no hockey practices or games. So, to tide us all over, here are a few miscellaneous Strongsville Mustangs hockey game highlights from games played over the past couple weeks (including the goal Andrew scored a week ago).

Christmas Fun Revisted

Abby and I were feeling nostalgic this evening so we got our our old collection of family Christmas DVDs. Just as many families send Christmas cards and letters during the holiday season, the Hollywood Four used to send Christmas DVDs to our family and friends. This video contains highlights from the first Christmas DVD we produced in 2004 while living in Chicago. We continued the tradition for three additional years - until I no longer had willing and cooperative participants. It was fun while it lasted ... and definitely fun to look back upon again. They used to be so cute!

A Local Christmas Light Show

How would you like to live next to these five houses? This Medina, OH couple have become legendary in the area for their Disney Christmas light display. Here is a local newspaper article on the subject. We took a drive through last night and here is a short clip of what we saw (you even tune in your car radio to a specific station to here the music that goes with the lights).

The Next Chapter in My Marketing Career

As most of my family and friends know, I have been evaluating new career opportunities over the past few weeks. I have met and spoken with a lot of great people. Some of the companies that expressed interest in my talents include a telecommunications distributor, two logistics software companies, a couple transportation providers and several third party logistics companies - oh, and an eco-friendly bus manufacturer too. The networking experience has been eye-opening and I have also found the true meaning of friendship when it counts most. Even with the positive activity, one organization in particular really showed a great deal of interest in me, and I in them. And so, earlier this week I followed my heart and accepted an offer to join an organization called PartnerShip LLC as their new marketing director. Even though I have not yet begun working for them, their President & COO has already sent an internal communication announcing my addition to the team, as he puts it, to "... help refine existing and develop new marketing strategies in support of business goals and objectives, and create efficient and profitable processes for the execution and implementation of such strategies." I am really looking forward to this new and unique opportunity. The company is a small, for-profit subsidiary of a larger non-profit organization called the National Association of College Stores (or NACS for short). PartnerShip LLC specializes in providing transportation and logistics services to college bookstores and to other small and medium businesses. They recently moved into new offices in Westlake, OH and all of the people I have met so far have been wonderful. It will truly be a breath of fresh air to work for a small, non-public company with a lean, high-integrity management team - and so I am really excited about this opportunity. Thank you again for the support of my family and friends. More Hollywood marketing details to come in future posts.

WhirlyBall Christmas Party

The Strongsville Mustangs had their team Christmas party this evening. The party was at the WhirlyBall facility in Bedford Heights. Andrew and the rest of the kids had a blast (and dads too!). There was lots of junk food and, in addition to WhirlyBall, some of the kids played laser tag. At the end, each of the kids received a team gift: A miniature hockey stick with the team logo and their name on it. Here are a few highlights.

Two Hockey Scrimmages

Andrew and the Strongsville Mustangs played two scrimmages today against the Garfield Heights Bulldogs which is in a the A1 division (we are in the A2 division). Both games were in Garfield Heights. The first game got pretty crazy. It had everything from a penalty shot, two kids being ejected for fighting, one parent being ejected for yelling at the referees, to our goalie leaving the game with a concussion (we had to use skaters to defend the goal for most of the third period). We lost that game 3-10. We recruited a new goalie (one of the players younger brothers) for the second game. The second game was more normal, but we still lost 4-7. However, Andrew played great scoring the first goal in the game and adding an assist later on in the game. More practice this week, then regular season play again next weekend.

Abby's Art

Abby has been really inspired by her art class this semester. She has a new sketch book and she has been drawing some really good pictures lately. Here is one that she showed me when I cam home today. Both Abby and Andrew have always been good at drawing, but I am impressed with Abby's recent improvement. Hopefully she sticks with it - after all, she comes from a family with a lot of creative roots.

More Motown Hockey

The dad of one of Andrew's teammates on the Strongsville Mustangs is our official team videographer. I was able to get a copy of some of the video footage from last weekend's Hockeytown Red Wings Experience hockey tournament. The first video below is just the highlights at, and leading up to, our first game at Joe Louis Arena; the second video below has highlights from our second game in which Andrew had a couple nice shots on goal and one assist in a 4-2 victory.

Hockeytown Tournament

This Thanksgiving weekend, Dad and Andrew parted ways with Mom and Abby (went to Chicago for Oireachtas) so they could travel to Detroit for the Hockeytown Red Wings Experience hockey tournament. Andrew and his Strongsville Mustangs competed in a division of all Canadian teams (except for us). They lost their first game 1-7 at Joe Louis Arena, bounced back to win their second game 2-4 in Plymouth, lost their third game 0-8 in Farmington Hills, then won their final game 5-2 in Dearborn Heights. They finished in 3rd place overall and just missed out on the championship game. It was still fun. The kids got to swim and go to a Red Wings hockey game Saturday night. We didn't get too many photos or video clips (hoping others did), but here are the highlights of what we did get.

Oireachtas 2011

This Thanksgiving weekend Mom and Abby parted ways with Dad and Andrew (went to Detroit for hockey tournament) and headed to Chicago for the 2011 Mid America Oireachtas regional Irish dance competition. Unfortunately, Abby did not place in her category, but I think her and Mom still had fun. Here are some photographed highlights.

Hockey Highlights

Andrew (#97) and the Strongsville Mustangs PW1 team had two games this weekend. The first game was Friday night and the Mustangs let one get away by losing to first place Shaker Heights 2-1 after leading 1-0 late into the third period. Today the Mustangs redeemed themselves by defeating Tri-County 3-1. The Mustangs have now played 4 regular season games and have a record of 1-2-1. Hopefully today's win will get them back on track again. This weekend the team will be playing a Hockeytime Red Wings Experience Tournament in Detroit. They are guaranteed to play at least 3-4 games, one of which will be at Joe Louis Arena. The whole team will also get to watch a Red Wings game Saturday night. Should be lots of fun.

Oireachtas Pep Rally

Yesterday Abby had a practice and pep rally for her upcoming Mid America Region Oireachtas competition that is in Chicago over Thanksgiving weekend. Every year the O'Hare Irish Dance booster club has a pep rally to wish good luck to the girls that will be competing in Oireachtas. It's usually good fun and a nice way to get everyone excited for the competition. Good luck Abby!

Happy Anniversary!

Today, the first "Hollywood Two" (Scott and Karen) celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary. Last year I put together a short video as a walk back through time across our 20 year history. You can watch it again by clicking here.

Mustangs Hockey

The Strongsville Mustangs PW1 regular hockey season is under way! The Mustangs had their first game this past Saturday against Rocky River. It was a nail biter that finished in a 1-1 tie (sorry, no video footage). Our next game is this coming Sunday against Cleveland Heights. The kids got their team pictures back this week so here is Andrew and the rest of his team. Looking forward to a good, competitive and fun hockey season.

Abby Takes First at the Prairie State Feis

Abby participated in two feiseanna this weekend in Chicago at the preliminary championship level. The first competition, the Chicago Autumn Feis, was on Saturday and we won't talk too much about that one since Abby finished 10th overall and 2nd in her set dance. However, she bounced back Sunday with a 1st place finish in the Prairie State Feis that was sponsored by the Mayer School of Irish Dance which was her former dance studio in Chicago. In fact, her first Irish dance instructor, Paul Mayer, had the honor of presenting her with her first place sash and award. Nice job Abby!

Happy Halloween

Tonight Andrew went trick-or-treating with a couple of his buddies on the neighborhood hay wagon. Andrew's costume was a homemade human iPod (middle in photo). The hayride has been a tradition every year we have lived in Ohio. Since we live in a very rural area, the Boyerts of Boyert's Greenhouse & Farm fire up the tractor and hay wagon and cart the kids all around the houses in the area. It's great for the kids and it's great for the folks who live in the area who enjoy giving out candy. Abby didn't go trick-or-treating this year, but she did go to a friend's bonfire party.

Hockey Update

Tonight was picture night at for Andrew and the Mustangs hockey team. They also received the final preseason RPI rankings which have the Mustangs placed in the A2 division for the regular season. That seems like a good placement - should be very competitive, but not so difficult as if they were placed in AA or A1.

Goodbye YRC Worldwide

It is with great sadness and mixed emotions that, after 22+ years of service, I bid goodbye to YRC Worldwide. I will truly miss all of my friends and colleagues at Holland, Reddaway, New Penn and YRC. It's a difficult chapter to close on my career, but it is time for a fresh start. I look forward to sinking my teeth into a new opportunity where I can apply my marketing experience, education and talents towards the success of another organization.

I also appreciate the support of my true friends and family as I transition to a new career opportunity. Your guidance and prayers are welcomed.

Scott G. Frederick
Marketing Professional
http://www.linkedin.com/in/sgfrederick