Mortified, Moving On to Google and Music for the Avster

Mortified: The definition made to feel uncomfortable because of shame or wounded pride. When I started this magnificent goal of finishing a triathlon, no one told me being mortified was an option. In fact, one of the multiple training books I looked through said, "Tell at least 5 people you are doing a triathlon. You are more likely to reach your goal." They didn't tell you all those people you told will ask you later how the race went. Another book said, "Don't worry, only 1 person comes in last, it is less likely to be you." A blogger wrote, "Train for flat tires, if you get one you will be thankful you know how to change it." Well, what about if your bike breaks down and it can't be fixed during the race? Who writes about that mental mountain to overcome? What if you C02 pump has a factory defect and won't work?

If you haven't heard by now, you guessed it. I landed in the 2% of all the racers at the Pigman Sprint not to finish because my bike decided it was time to take a break. After a great swim and transition, it happened. 14 minutes into my race, I got a flat tire. I pulled off to the side of the road. Maintaining composure, I began to change my tube. I pulled the C02 pump out of my pack. Jammed. No air. Switch the C02 again. Jammed. Changed it to my final C02 jammed. My fingers were bleeding from pushing and pushing the armed switch. 3 people stopped to help me. Nothing worked. A kind young women said, "hey you will be DQ for getting help from an outsider, but I will go get my air pump in the car if you want to finish the race." I told her, "yes and thank you." As prep to get the wheel ready for air pump....the hub to my quick release was gone! ARGGH! It had come off somewhere. Even with air, I wouldn't have been able to get the wheel back onto the bike. Mortified, mad, you name it.... I felt it. All the moments of preparation couldn't have prepared me for this experience. With tears in my eyes, I began to walk back to the transition station. Brenda, my boss at the Rockwell Rec Center, saw me. She had be standing across the street and few feet away and didn't realize it was me. When she saw it was me walking towards the crowd, she gave me a huge hug and said, "Go back put on your running shoes and finish the race, you will feel better." After finding Adam to tell him what happened,I did just that. Life Lesson One: We all have to move on after mortification. The whole time I was running, I keep thinking....what's the lesson in all of this?! Move on. Move on. Move on. It is all you can do when things like this happen in life and I did just that. Finally July 11th, at the Iowa Games I finished my first tri. No bike problems for me. In the end, the satisfaction of finishing was sweet and I sat back and was soo thankful for no bike malfunctions, but more importantly I gained lesson on how to move on past mortification.

Moving on in 13 things: This week google! Yep, the college did it. They switch our email to gmail. I was not a happy camper at first, but I have come to love and respect the gmail and its doc application. The google forms have been extremely helpful for my event registration process for service projects and collect information from student workers to issue dinners. I LOVE that it puts in into a spreadsheet for you and I can share it as a google docs.

Music for Ava: Ava's new favorite word is "duck". Please let me know if you know any duck songs. Currently, we sing Old McDonald had a farm with a duck as the animal.

The Main Mummble

Well, where do I begin? I signed up for the "13 things" Coe College Summer Challenge. In a maddening effort to increase my mindless ability to interact with the machine that sits in front of my desk...THE COMPUTER, I decided to sign up! Yes, I know my mediocre tech abilities doesn't match the masterful millennial generations. So here I sit with my first assignment on screen...setting up your own blog. MMM? What magnificent masterpiece should I name this blog? What could a muddled up membrane of words be called? In true Mandi style, I must use alliteration and what better letter than the letter M? Individuals already tease me about my M&M initials and my coworkers will tell you I must use alliteration in all teach moments with students and professional staff members.

What you will find in this blog? Well, let the list of M's begin:

Misspellings: Yep, it will happen. I apologize ahead of time.

Motherhood: A proud mother of 1 child. She is soon to be a 1 year old. I tend to talk about my little Ava. Yes, family alliteration is alive. (Adam Ryan, Amanda Rachelle, and Ava Rachelle). What can I say? I like things to match and go together.

Married life: Adam is the love my life. We are bonded for a lifetime together. I am sure a mumble or two will be about him and our life together.

Music: It is random, but I love the Nadas. I just came from a concert on Saturday. I just have music on my mind.

Midnight Mochas: I adore my grande nonfat cinnamon dolche latte with whip. YES! I said "with whip". It is my vice in life. Deal with it.

Muscular Endurance: From training for triathlons to teaching aerobics at Rockwell Collins, I am sure you will read something about my miserable muscles over the next few weeks.

Mastering New Technology(lol): Thank you Lisa for moving me closer toward this mobilized age! It is the goal of this whole mountain we are climbing together.

Matchless Memories of Working with Students: I love my work! Most of my days are filled with matchless moments of working with students to find a true passion for service. Just watch the video and you will see what I mean.


My online friends read and enjoy, as I meander over clicking my mouse and submitting my memorable mumbles to the world each week. Some post will be mundane while others possibly memorable and maybe moving. Overall, I hope it leaves you a little merrier than before you enter to read the mumbles.