PeacemakerJack 10,671 #1 Posted March 21, 2018 Caleb is competing in his first Christian school convention this week. I competed in it as a kid years ago myself and very much enjoyed it. I have just finished judging the metal working and woodworking projects... The convention has about 140 different events that a teen can compete in including but not limited to arts and crafts, music, platform, athletics, photography, writing categories, etc. He started the day by competing in the physical fitness category. You have to do as many pull-ups, push-ups, and sit-ups in an allotted time. He had some tough competition and came in third but did 4 pull-ups, 41 push-ups, and 165 sit-ups. The most exciting thing for him was to have his second cousin Paul (a 20 year Navy veteran in the middle) there to watch him compete and cheer him on. Local circle buddies @Achto and @WHX14 and @Rp.wh hopefully will get to meet Paul this summer as he is home from the Navy as in retired. So, I’m hoping that we can get another WH fanatic as Paul likes all things mechanical! Jordan on the left was the winner with 22, 60, 257. It is his 3rd year in this competition and Caleb’s first. Paul set the record in Physical Fitness in 1995 and it still holds today! Then after lunch it was time to head for the track events. Caleb wore the shirt that Paul got when he was training for the EOD program in Florida back in 2003. He lined up for the 400meter run and dedicated it to Paul. He took off and was slightly behind the leader but by the time he hit the 200 meter mark he had taken a 5 stride lead. By the time he reached the finish line he had about a 7 second lead! He did Paul good with his first place finish overall in the 400 meter. He also entered in the arts category in pen and ink and drew this picture. For not being the artist of the family, I was proud of his work. He likely won’t place because of the quality of the first four places but I’m so glad that he learned from his art teacher so much. I can’t draw a good stick man. @WVHillbilly520H can appreciate this with his art skills. Tomorrow he has platform events both speech and music. More pics and details to follow... 3 11 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,553 #2 Posted March 21, 2018 Impressive! He did about 40 push-ups more than I could do!! 😄 Nice to read about a motivated young man. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,155 #3 Posted March 21, 2018 Awesome and fantastic !!!! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,369 #4 Posted March 21, 2018 Josh, Yes sir I can, Caleb drew that very good job well done. I hope he does well overall through out the competition, other than the 3 years art in highschool the 2 best things I earned in my school career was 1) in eight grade all WV students were required to take WV history then near the end of year/class take a test and at least 2 or more of the highest scoring students from each of the 55 counties got to go to the state capital to be "knighted" as a "Knight of the Golden Horseshoe" I myself being one of the few in 1985, 2) in 12th grade during Vo-Tech won the local and regional VICA auto mechanics competition going on to state and placing in the top 10 (computer engine management was becoming the latest thing and our teacher wasn't up to date) but anyways good memories, hopefully Caleb utilizes all of these moments for his future endeavors,(don't mean to hi-jack your post or toot my own horn), Jeff. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 26,566 #5 Posted March 21, 2018 That's some great accomplishments for his first year or any year. Tell Caleb to keep up the good work. 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,721 #6 Posted March 22, 2018 Caleb is a fine young man, look forward to meting him one day. 3 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,011 #7 Posted March 22, 2018 Great job Caleb, keep up the good work!... And thank you for your service, Paul! 5 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,671 #8 Posted March 22, 2018 11 hours ago, WVHillbilly520H said: 1) in eight grade all WV students were required to take WV history then near the end of year/class take a test and at least 2 or more of the highest scoring students from each of the 55 counties got to go to the state capital to be "knighted" as a "Knight of the Golden Horseshoe" I myself being one of the few in 1985, 2) in 12th grade during Vo-Tech won the local and regional VICA auto mechanics competition going on to state and placing in the top 10 Jeff—that is awesome! Congrats on both those accomplishments at a young age! I feel like much of our society today has become so accepting of mediocrity that it has really stripped away the potential of our younger generation to strive for excellence. “Let’s give everyone a trophy” or “We don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings and so we won’t keep score” just doesn’t sit well with me. I’ve learned from my successes but I’ve also learned a lot from my failures. Well done Jeff on those early successes and striving hard for excellence. Thanks guys for the kind words and if Caleb can carve out a few free moments today in between his speech and music events, I’ll have him log in and comment himself. Otherwise, I’m sure he’ll do a write up after it is over on Friday evening or Saturday. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
19richie66 16,942 #9 Posted March 22, 2018 Go get ‘em Caleb! 👍👍 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JPWH 5,308 #10 Posted March 22, 2018 2 hours ago, 19richie66 said: Go get ‘em Caleb! 👍👍 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,155 #11 Posted March 22, 2018 (edited) 4 hours ago, PeacemakerJack said: I’ve learned from my successes but I’ve also learned a lot from my failures. Agreed. In too many ways mediocrity has become the sad norm. If you never "fail" you cannot succeed! I've reached a point in my life in which I don't look at most of my non-successes as failures. I tried. It didn't work. So?? I learned something. I try again. Repeat as needed. ..... Edited March 22, 2018 by ebinmaine 2 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
19richie66 16,942 #12 Posted March 22, 2018 “Repeat as needed” Too many times 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,155 #13 Posted March 22, 2018 13 minutes ago, 19richie66 said: “Repeat as needed” Too many times Yeah well ya know...... sometimes... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coulter Caleb 532 #14 Posted March 22, 2018 Thanks guys for the support It’s really fun here we’ve done a lot of stuff over the past few days.Today I am doing a speech,singing,and watching other people do there acts. 1 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,671 #15 Posted March 22, 2018 We are at the midpoint of the day and all is going well. Caleb is doing a very good job. In some of the categories, other entries have more experience and quality but I’m still proud of his hard work... Here he is competing in famous speech. He is reciting from memory “The declaration of War” given by FDR on December 8th, 1941. Caleb did a good job but had a couple of memory lapses but he finished strong and I was proud of his work. Next up was the Male solo. This is an area that you wouldn’t catch me attempting when I was 13 or today but he has a much better voice than I do... His voice hasn’t changed yet and so he can sing the really high notes which he did a great job at hitting. Then it was time for the male duet. He was able to sing with his buddy Reagan. They had a few shaky moments but overall delivered a good performance and Caleb’s high notes were the talk of the down time in between the next couple of performances. When I was his age, I was only brave enough to enter the woodworking category. I did very well with the projects that I entered but I’m so glad that he is willing to expand his horizons and enter in a variety of events. 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,230 #16 Posted March 22, 2018 Pretty special Caleb. Thanks for sharing Josh. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,671 #17 Posted March 22, 2018 Steve—you are our favorite “south of the Cheddar Border” Local Circle buddy. I’m glad that you’ve gotten to meet Caleb already and spend some time with him in person. He’s quite a kid! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,797 #18 Posted March 22, 2018 Sure don't dress like a plow boy! Keep up the good work Caleb! 2 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,671 #19 Posted March 22, 2018 cleans up good doesn’t he? But make no mistake about it, that kid will climb into the furrows and stay there most of the day if you keep him in fuel on a good running “steed” 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 63,155 #20 Posted March 22, 2018 (edited) 56 minutes ago, PeacemakerJack said: cleans up good doesn’t he? But make no mistake about it, that kid will climb into the furrows and stay there most of the day if you keep him in fuel on a good running “steed” I have no intention of sticking my nose into your parenting Circle or whatever but you may want to have him change out of those fine clothes before you toss him in a furrow. C'mon Maw! It's clean mud! I promise! Edited March 22, 2018 by ebinmaine 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
19richie66 16,942 #21 Posted March 22, 2018 But he already has on them boots. Bet there’s some work clothes under that suit. Rip that suit off like Superman as he runs for the tractor. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,671 #22 Posted March 22, 2018 Ready to change “hats” and clothes at a moments notice. Clark Kent doesn’t have anything on Coulter Caleb!!! 1 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,721 #23 Posted March 23, 2018 9 hours ago, ebinmaine said: tried. It didn't work. So?? I learned something. I try again. Thomas Edison's teachers said he was "too stupid to learn anything." He was fired from his first two jobs for being "non-productive." As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. ... Edison replied, "I didn't fail 1,000 times, I discovered 1,000 unsuitable materials. 5 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,671 #24 Posted March 23, 2018 So Caleb finished the day strong with a couple more music performances... Sang in a mixed trio and a male quartet... All in all a pretty busy day for him. He made a new friend in his favorite competitor, Jordan. They were in three events together and had time to talk before and after competing. The medals were handed out for athletics tonight and Caleb received a first place for the 400 meter run and a third place for the physical fitness category. He is officially done with competition, now he has to wait for the afternoon awards program tomorrow to see how he did in his speech and music categories... 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
19richie66 16,942 #25 Posted March 23, 2018 Awesome @Coulter Caleb. Great job. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites