By Olivia Dunn & Ethan Shea

Happy Thursday, Wildcats! We hope you enjoyed a week of repose and are ready for another installment of the Curious Cat! For this week’s episode, Olivia and Ethan asked some Falvey patrons to name a highlight of their Fall Break.

Did you do anything fun or exciting during break? Don’t be afraid to share your experiences in the comments below!

“I went to New York and saw Six on Broadway.”

— Kate Donnelly ’24

“I worked as a hostess and visited some friends.”

— Quinn Johnston ’24

“I visited Penn State, went to a wedding, and traveled to LBI (Long Beach Island).”

— Cassidy Montigelli ’25

“I traveled to Las Vegas.”

— Josh Javier ’23

Olivia Dunn is a senior at Villanova University. She works in Falvey Library as a Communications and Marketing Assistant and majors in Communication with specializations in both Journalism and Public Relations.

Ethan Shea is a graduate student in the English Department at Villanova University and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.

Photo courtesy of Kallie Stahl.

Hope you had a great fall break, Wildcats! Some beautiful autumn colors await your return to campus.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

Happy Friday, Wildcats! Falvey Library is delivering you another semester of Weekend Recs, a blog dedicated to filling you in on what to read, listen to, and watch over the weekend. Annie, a graduate assistant from the Communication department, scours the internet, peruses the news, and digs through book stacks to find new, relevant, and thought-provoking content that will challenge you and prepare you for the upcoming week.

As Fall Break comes to a close, it may be easy to mourn the loss of your free time and feel stressed for what is to come. While (sadly), we can’t exactly change our upcoming workloads and schedules, we can take a moment to breathe and take care of ourselves before it gets overwhelming. This weekend’s recs are some of my self-care favorites to keep you rejuvenated as you enter the semester once more (but even if none of these are your cup of tea, I still hope you are able to take some time to prioritize your own self-care).

If you have 49 seconds…and are dealing with negative thoughts, watch this soothing and uplifting TikTok. It might not cure you of all the negativity swirling around in your (I’m sure beautiful and capable) brain, but it might be a helpful reminder when you’re struggling.

If you have 4 minutes…and want to relax with an oddly calming classic Internet video, watch “MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON.” Perhaps an early version of ASMR, Marcel the Shell is an oddly endearing sentient clay-mation seashell with a small voice (provided by the very talented Jenny Slate) and positive vibes.

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

If you have 5 minutes…and need to do something tactile, play with some putty (slime’s less messy cousin). I use Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty, which comes in a wide variety of colors, textures, and scents. (Also, if you can get your hands on one, Falvey’s stress balls are great).

If you have 15 minutes…and want to learn more about self-care and what it looks like for others, read this New York Times article. It might give you some ideas for new self-care practices you could work into your own routine.

If you have 20 minutes…and need to find a new calming soundtrack, listen to Alice Kristiansen’s recent album Memos from Maine. “Lucid Dreaming” and “Oregon” are my particular favorites for taking a few minutes for myself. (And of course, Hozier’s self titled album is also great for calming any nerves).

If you have 1 hour…and need to get your endorphins pumping, go on a walk or a hike. If you don’t want to leave campus, check out Villanova’s self-guided tree tour. It’ll take you on a walk around campus and show you some interesting greenery.

If you have 2 hours…and need to throw something on in the background, watch one of your comfort movies or TV shows (perhaps from Falvey’s DVD Collection). Addams Family Values is my favorite comfort film, especially during October. Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing is a more recent comfort movie of mine (even though it’s not entirely comforting).

If you have 8 hours…and have been bogged down with reading for classes, read a book for fun. Although we might be a bit biased at Falvey, reading something you actually enjoy might help rekindle your love for reading (or at least make it seem less like a chore), while keeping your brain active. Sarah Dessen’s Just Listen has been a comfort book of mine since middle school.

Bonus: If you want to set-up a good habit for the rest of the semester, join Falvey’s Mindfulness Monday virtual session this Monday, Oct. 17. Campus Ministries will lead us through a guided meditation/mindfulness exercise that will leave you feeling less stressed.

Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and graduate assistant in Falvey Library.

By Ethan Shea

Lake Pocotopaug in Ethan’s hometown of East Hampton, CT

Dear Falvey Patrons,

After midterms week, this Cat in the Stax is dog-tired. I’m sure plenty of you are too, so I hope you’re having a restful Fall Break.

I’m writing this blog from my parent’s home in Connecticut, where I’ll be spending the week. It feels great to return home and see your family for the first time in a while, but if we’re being honest, it feels even better to be greeted by your dogs.

Ethan’s Dogs, Lola and Ted

While I’m away, there are a million and one ways to keep in touch with my human family members.  I can text them, call them, DM them on Instagram, FaceTime them, send them a letter, an email, or even a package in the mail. On the other hand, my dogs are unable to communicate with me when I’m away, as a lack of dexterous digits prevents my pets from responding to my instant messages.

I’m happy to enjoy some repose and sleep like a dog if you will, but as you know, even during break there’s work to be done. Luckily, even when you’re away from the stacks, Falvey Library is just a click away.

I know I’ll be doing some research during break, and having access to a plethora of online material is a life-saver. There are hundreds of well-known databases, such as JSTOR and Project Muse, in addition to way more online books than anyone could read in a week. Not to mention the ability to live chat with librarians at a moment’s notice.

It’s odd that I’m just now noticing the irony in me being a thoroughgoing dog person while also being the Cat in the Stax. What strange double lives we lead…

Anyways, I hope that maybe, for just this week, cats and dogs can get along while I visit my canine companions.

Sincerely,

Falvey’s Cat in the Stax

Ethan Shea is a graduate student in the English Department at Villanova University and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Memorial Library.

Fall Break Service Hours

(Saturday, October 8–Monday, October 16)

Saturday, October 8

Service Desk: 12 p.m.–5 p.m. (book stacks 12 p.m.–4:30 p.m.)

Sunday, October 9

CLOSED

Monday, October 10–Friday, October 14

Service Desk: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (book stacks 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.)

Saturday, October 15

CLOSED

Sunday, October 16

Service Desk: 12 p.m.–8 p.m. (book stacks 12 p.m.–7:30 p.m.)

Regular service hours resume on Monday, October 17.

Campus is quiet this afternoon. Have a great fall break, Nova Nation!

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

Photo courtesy of Shawn Proctor, Communication and Marketing Program Manager.

Falvey Library staff hosted a pop-up midterm stressbuster on Tuesday, Oct. 5. Students were treated to some fun snacks, feel-good music, and helpful Library essentials. Have a great fall break, Wildcats!

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

Fall break service hours:

Monday, October 14 – Friday, October 18: 9am-5pm (entrance doors and book stacks lock at 4:30pm, after-hours card access available)

Saturday, October 19: CLOSED (after-hours card access available)

Sunday, October 20: 12-8pm (entrance doors and book stacks lock at 7:30pm, after-hours card access available)

Regular semester hours resume on Monday, October 21. 24/7 areas will remain accessible to students, faculty and staff with a valid Wildcard when the service desk is closed.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

Foto Friday: V’s Up For Fall Break

Finals are finished, Wildcats! Enjoy fall break!

Photo from Hoops Mania courtesy of Annabelle Humiston ’20 CLAS.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

It is almost Fall Break! If you live within a 3 mile vicinity of Villanova, listen for the collective sigh of relief when thousands of students hand in their midterms, getting ready for fall break. In honor of the much-needed respite, we asked students what they would be doing during their fall break.

This week’s Curious Cat is brought to you by Allie Reczek, Lindsay Sassion, and Liam Brassington, three of our wonderful undergraduate student workers in the Falvey Memorial Library Communication & Marketing Department. Keep an eye out for them every Thursday, asking students their opinions on a range of subjects and topics.