I’m currently sitting in the parking lot of the veterinarian waiting for a report on what’s going on with Frida, our chihuahua who we’ve had for ten years.  Such is the state of technology today that typing this editorial on a tiny phone keyboard in a parking lot in what is essentially an industrial district is not only possible, but a welcome distraction from what’s going on in the building behind me.

Many students of Athabasca have children. We have pets.  But the feelings are, I imagine, very similar, as other pet owning students will surely attest.  Our chihuahua has a congenital heart condition, and there is a surgery for it, but it is only currently done in Japan.  But our Frida is important enough that we’ve been getting ready to travel half-way around the world (and drain a good chunk of our savings) to do exactly that.

So now you have context for why this issue isn’t going to be fully up for a while yet, as the vet told us to bring her right in when we mentioned some symptoms we noticed earlier today.

But what is up right now definitely deserves a read.  Our primary feature is an interview with a student who started off in a hurry to get into the trades and start making a living, but found himself inevitably drawn to post-secondary education as he gained experience.

But also this week, our first article from student Tristina Godoy-Contois is a must read.  She opens up about her experience dealing with a significant trauma that derailed her life and what she found that finally allowed  her to begin to heal.

Beyond that, if you’ve been looking for some book suggestions, especially as we enter the holiday season, the November reading list is up with some student recommended books for your perusal.

Normally I’d point out that we also have events, scholarships, reviews, and more, but those are going to be a bit later, as the vet is coming out to give us some news.  So, fingers crossed and enjoy the read.  There’ll be even more to read in a bit, and I’ll be sure to give an update–in case you want to know how the story ends.

Update: After a long night of waiting and repeated confirmations to the vet as to whether we want the next set of tests run, the ultimate conclusion was “Yes, something’s wrong, we’re not sure what though.  We ruled out the obvious and dangerous candidates, and she’s responded well to pain meds, so at this point we’re thinking she tweaked her back or something along those lines, but nothing serious enough to show up in any of the many, many tests you’ve now paid for.”  So we were given some dog-appropriate drugs in syringes to squirt into her mouth and told to keep an eye on her and call back if things worsen.

We are on the road to having one of the world’s most expensive, and apparently sensitive, chihuahuas.  And you know what, that’s okay, as she’s also one of the most loving dogs I’ve ever known (Yes, a chihuahua.  While I know they have a notorious reputation for being biting or snappy, the worst you need to fear from Frida is having an ear licked off.) But as a side note, if you’re a pet owner, I strongly urge you to consider pet insurance of some type.  Take a careful look at the terms of the provider, however, as I know some have maximum amounts that they’re willing to lay out in covering a single condition.

In the meantime, the Voice Magazine is now essentially complete for this week, with the addition of our scholarships, events, and a look at the power and difficulty of silence, among other things.  It’s really a good read, and if you haven’t read “The Lines Separating Victims from Perpetrators” yet, I strongly urge you to do so.