Cat in the Stax: Fall 2022 Semester Rewind
By Ethan Shea
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For the final Cat in the Stax of 2022, I will continue the tradition of ending each semester with a recap of some recent Cat in the Stax highlights.
To begin, one of my favorite blogs this semester was “What are you listening 2?” This blog published back in September was one of my favorites to write. I’ve always enjoyed keeping up to date with the latest music releases, and given the constant output of content these days, I could write a new version of this blog every week!
Another memorable post took place during spooky season. Halloween is usually a time to stuff your face with sweets, but this year I took a more savory approach to the season. In the blog “The Season of Pizza?” I shared my experience eating New-Haven style pizza in my home state of Connecticut. I even introduced some more obscure regional slices, such as Altoona pizza. I’m looking forward to returning to Connecticut during winter break to eat some more delicious pies!
World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis, Missouri
Another food-related blog I enjoyed writing was “The Fast-Food Graveyard.” To celebrate National Fast Food Day on Nov. 16, I shared some memorable discontinued fast-food meals such as the McRib and McDonald’s Cinnamelt. Although the McRib recently returned for a limited time, the sandwich is supposedly gone forever … but we’ll see how long that lasts.
One thing I didn’t mention in this blog is the recent loss of all-day breakfast at McDonald’s. Because of COVID-19, McDonald’s was forced to end its all-day breakfast, and it is yet to return. I understand there are probably many reasons for this decision, and hopefully they take the well-being of workers into account. That being said, I hope we can someday find a way to safely return to a world where I can eat a McGriddle at midnight.
Without a doubt, the blog that was the highlight of my fall semester was “A Game of Chess.” This blog about my visit to St. Louis allowed me to talk about many of my favorite things. There was discussion of chess at the World Chess Hall of Fame and of T.S. Eliot’s poem The Waste Land, which celebrates its hundredth birthday this year!
If you’re feeling nostalgic, you can take a trip down memory lane and return to any of these Cat in the Stax blogs on Falvey’s website.
This cat is signing off until next year! Have a relaxing break, and we’ll speak again in January!
Ethan Shea is a graduate student in the English Department and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.
Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.
Falvey Memorial Library is celebrating 
Olivia Dunn ’23 CLAS is a current junior at Villanova, majoring in Communication with specializations in Journalism and Public Relations. She works in Falvey Library as a Marketing and Communications Assistant.
Merrill Stein is Political Science Librarian at Falvey Memorial Library.
Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.
