The Driftwood #24: Recipe Roundup

March 10, 2022

Season Your D*mn Meats

salmonPicture this scenario for a second: you’re at the humble abode of a person you’ve been seeing for a while, and they make you a meal. It looks quite delicious, so you dig in, only to realize a terrible truth: they didn’t season the meat. If this has yet to happen to you, know that that is a red flag, and you have been warned. Here are some ways I like to season and cook some meats because I would never wish the alternative even on my greatest enemies.Sweet-Kick Chicken

  • uncooked/precooked chicken
  • honey bbq sauce
  • black pepper
  • red pepper flakes

Place some honey bbq sauce onto a pan with a medium heat burner, and let it sit with some black pepper and red pepper flakes. After a short while, place the chicken onto the pan, over a stove on medium-high heat, and shake it around so it can cook in the mix of sweetness and spiciness.Sweet Salmon Zest

  • tail cut salmon
  • honey
  • salt
  • lemon pepper
  • orange
  • lemon

Place your cut of salmon, skin down, onto a baking pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Brush a thin layer of honey on top of the salmon, and sprinkle some salt and lemon pepper. Cut your orange and lemon into thin slices, and surround the salmon with them by overlapping them. When that is all ready, place the pan into a 375°F oven for thirty minutes.

—Jake Puestow, Cooking Editor

The Driftwood #24: Storytellers #1

March 10, 2022

Serial Story: Noah’s Dream Journal #3

October 26, 1:37 AMI wasn’t in this dream, like I was not physically in it. It looked like some old video game I’ve never heard of. The polygonal look of it made everything jagged and uneasy; even the characters, a rat and a garden gnome, looked like they were in pain. Whether or not this was a real game, I knew for certain that I was playing it. Once again, I was in control.I couldn’t tell what was happening and all the dialogue seemed dull and drawn out, so I just skipped through most of it. Then, one dialogue box popped up that read, “Just as long as he doesn’t quit the game.” Did they know this was a game? Did they know that they were characters waiting for this conversation to be over? Would something happen if I did quit? I didn’t touch a button. I didn’t know what to think after that.Then, this melody creeped in as the characters turned to face me. It was that song the mother whistled in the last dream, but it only made me feel uneasy, and the two characters’ eyes turning a sickly yellow left me feeling nauseated. I couldn’t look at them anymore, I had to pause the game. More dialogue boxes came at the pause screen: “Don’t quit the game!” “Don’t hurt us!” “DON’T HURT US!!!” I did it. I quit. The song stopped and so did the dialogue… but it only got worse after that…To be continued…Click these links to read previous entries: Part 1Part 2

—Jake Puestow, Serial Fiction Editor

The Driftwood #24: Storytellers #2

March 10, 2022

Flash Fiction: Oak

Spring is a time for fresh starts and budding life. Where does this new life come from? Well, death, of course, but that is not always a sad as it seems.Marie watched her husband’s love for her fade from his eyes as the autumn passed. He finally handed her the paperwork without a word on that November day; they were done. The love that lasted so many years had died, a fallen oak rotting from the inside out. Her heart froze into a block of ice as the snow piled higher and higher onto the forest floor. One morning a few months later, Marie found herself smiling as she prepared her garden for the summer season, a sapling sprouting out from the mushroom-covered trunk.

—Serenity Block, Flash Fiction Editor

The Driftwood #24: Storytellers #3

March 10, 2022

Writing Exercise: Evil Holiday Figures

Sinister Santa, Evil Easter Bunny, Corrupt Cupid… In this writing activity, you will write about a famous holiday character who has turned evil. Something may have ticked in the Easter Bunny’s head, making him a malevolent monster, or maybe Santa became frustrated with all the people on his naughty list and decided to take a different approach than just putting coal in your stocking. Have fun creating your evil version of a holiday figure. Below, I share my own response to this prompt. Evil SantaCreepy Santa statues2 a.m., and up on the rooftop, I hear loud banging. “Who could that be?” is on my family’s mind. My father fetches the rifle with the thought that an intruder is attempting to encroach on our house. As a paranoid redneck, he has the intention to shoot any trespassers without inquiry of their actions. “Be quiet, stay low,” he mutters to me and my mom. He exits into the frigid cold, but the instant he steps his first foot outside, he wails and thrashes. Something red jumps onto my father and crushes him flat onto the cold snow. The contour of this creature is ginormous like that of a gorilla; it chants a haunting melody of incoherent words while devouring my father’s flesh. I duck down under the dining room table and cover my ears while I try to conceal my voice. I am only six; what prowess could I possibly hold to defeat such a defiant beast? My mother is wailing on the kitchen floor holding a knife. Just then, the window next to my mother breaks loudly, shedding sharp shards of glass over the kitchen floor. I close my eyes, but I hear heavy footsteps intruding the house; each footstep sounds like a loud roar of thunder that penetrates the heart. The footsteps stop abruptly when I assume the beast sees my mother. “Oh…uh…ho ho ho ho ho,” it sings. My mother shrieks. Then it is quiet. I open my eyes to see what is happening, but no one is there. My mother is gone. I hear a click to my left; I turn my  head in fear to see the shadow of a jack-in-the-box. It begins playing a cold crooked melody for 20 seconds, then Jack pops out and sprays something in my face. I begin experiencing profound malaise and fatigue and, immediately, I pass out. As soon as I regain consciousness, I find myself in a massive flying chariot. The wind is so frigid that my face hurts. I am tied up in ropes and chains, and I see my mom in the chariot, too. She has frozen tears on her cheeks, and she is dressed entirely in white with a wedding veil. I look at my legs only to see that my legs have become shorter, and a green hat falls from my head. “Mom?” My voice has become more high-pitched like a toddler. She shushes me. The beast is holding us hostage and is taking us to an unknown location. It is at that time when I can fully see what the monster is. It is Santa Claus.

—Conner Tuthill

The Driftwood #24: Poetry Corner

March 10, 2022

The Beast

As me and my own blood were bornTo wait the Beast’s return,We happy few with no oath swornDo ponder when to learnDo we forgive the sinners’ past –Relieve them of their pain?All those who lived in glory vast?All those who died in vain?Those husks of flesh with eyes alike,Perspectives ever bent,Like us did face His coming pikeTo be ripped of consentOur thoughts at pause by darkened skyBy brewing storm of hasteAlas, I’ll stand before Him highAnd for my son encased

—Jake Puestow, Poetry Editor

The Driftwood #24: Travel Tales

March 10, 2022

Bizarre Travel Stories

In this section, Driftwood writers share the most bizarre and unusual incidents that they have encountered on vacation.People Following Me?In 2015, my family and I, along with some of my aunts, uncles, and cousins, took a cruise ship vacation. On the second day of the vessel’s voyage, I decided to explore the ship. With a deck-plan map in my hand, I made my way out of my stateroom, anxious to uncover what the cruise liner had to offer. The hallways were vast, and I had the intention of “getting lost” in the ship. Happily strolling about, I suddenly noticed a small group of people behind me. They walked with boldness and speed, and they were looking directly at me, pointing and laughing. They were speaking Spanish, or perhaps Portuguese, so I did not have a clue about what they were saying. After wandering through the ship for a while, I met a dead end, and I found that they were still following me. These intrusive strangers must have come to the belief that I was stupidly lost, so they began laughing and making even more gestures, still talking in a language foriegn to me. The corridors mostly led to cabins and staterooms, so at first I thought they were just going to their rooms, but I was wrong. In frustration, I turned around, passing by them in the opposite direction. They began laughing again, looking me dead in the face, so I decided to make an escape to where there were restaurants and large crowds of people. They stopped harassing me then. At last it was over. What an uncomfortable experience!

—Conner Tuthill, Travel Editor

Elevator BluesThis story isn’t necessarily “bizarre,” but it is definitely a tale of two cultures coming together. Several years ago, I was traveling to Italy with a choir from Wisconsin. On our first morning in Florence, a group of us were waiting for the elevator, when we heard a large clank. The doors opened a scant few inches, and we peered through the gap to see an Italian man looking back at us, wide-eyed. The elevator hadn’t quite made it fully up to our floor, either, so he was about eye-level with our waists.Our choir director swooped over, arms wide, and herded us toward the stairwell, telling the man in English that we would notify the hotel staff. I quickly surmised that he spoke about as much English as we spoke Italian, since as our group thinned out, he started to wailand I mean, wail. The poor guy was terrified, and rightfully so! I ducked under the director’s arm and went back and sat down on the floor with him. Remembering that my mother had told me Spanish was close enough to Italian that she could understand it, I started talking to him in Spanish. I introduced myself and told him the elevator wouldn’t fall, that it was just stuck, and my group had gone to get help. He calmed down and remained tearfully silent, so I kept up the barrage of Spanish and phrasebook Italian, telling him where we were from and about our choir, how Florence was my favorite place we’d visited so far, and how much I hated singing “Come Again Sweet Love.” He didn’t say much back, but he nodded encouragingly and gave me his full attentionall the better to distract him from his predicament.Several minutes later, we heard another clank, and the elevator rose. The doors whooshed open, freeing my new friend. When I’d last visited them, my Honduran family had gently made fun of me for my initial American reserve compared to their more demonstrative culture, and since I’d noticed similiarities between them and the Italians I’d met thus far, I fully expected a hug and a smile. However, this lovely man was so grateful I’d stayed with him, he scooped me up, swung me around in a circle, delivered the European double-cheek kiss con gusto, and repeated “grazie” more times than I can count. I didn’t mind being moved around by this stranger in the slightestI could tell it came from a genuine rush of emotion. Soon thereafter, he went about his day, obviously glad to have survived the Elevator of Doom, and I went about mine. But he remains my most vivid memory of Florence, and it always makes me smile.

—Tracy Fernandez Rysavy, Driftwood advisor

The Driftwood #24: Real Talk #1

March 10, 2022

Celebrity Q&A: Ryan Reynolds

Ryan ReynoldsRyan Renolds is known to most as the voice (and face) behind the Marvel superhero Deadpool. An actor who made his box office debut in 2004, in Blade Trinity, Reynolds voiced the Nintendo character Pikachu in the film Detective Pikachu. He has also been in plenty of other comedy and action films. Deadpool, to this day, remains one of his most-loved roles with how he fit it so snugly.Q: How is Deadpool different from other characters you had done before?A: I don’t know, they are always different. It’s a very broad question. I honestly do not know; Deadpool is different from any other role that I have ever played.

Desde Hollywood H

Q: Did you take the Deadpool suit home?A: Of course, during the last day of shooting, I just packed the thing up and I said, “If someone needs the suit they can fucking try and get it.”

—Desde Hollywood H

Q: What was it like inside the costume?A: Picture strapping your entire body into a tight red body condom. That’s what it is.

—Desde Hollywood H

Q: Your career seemed to really come alive when you carved out a path of less traditional leading men.A: Some of the stuff that I’ve done in the past that you would categorize as maybe didn’t work were moments where I was stepping into the role of the archetypal leading-man role. It’s just not something I’ve ever been really that great at, to be totally blunt.

Q: When Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, the culture clash was often represented by drawings of Mickey Mouse and Deadpool together. Do you have any concerns that future Deadpool films will be toned down under Disney?A: I don’t, no. I don’t have any reason to be concerned based on everything I’ve heard Disney say publicly and privately.

—ABC News—Will Kosmal, Celebrity Q&A Editor

The Driftwood #24: Real Talk #2

March 10,  2022

Humanizing Our Professors: Roshelle Amundson

English/Writing Foundations Department, Marinette Campus

A little-known secret around campus is that our professors were once students. Nervous, confused, and probably as hungry as we all are while sitting through lectures, here are their first experiences as professors and what tips they have to offer for students taking their courses.

Roshelle AmundsonBelieve it or not, Professor Roshelle Amundson taught in multiple settings for about ten years, in addition to her teaching practicum, before becoming a college instructor. However, no amount of preparation calmed her nerves. She recalled feeling like an “imposter,” imperfect and afraid of losing credibility with her students for simple mistakes—a common feeling for new teachers. It wouldn’t be until she learned to be transparent and honest with her students about being imperfect that she began to truly feel she was in the right place. In fact, students were able to appreciate her more and open up about their own struggles when she did this, creating safe and encouraging environments for learning.

A helpful tip she mentioned for students is, “Don’t pay any attention to RateMyInstructor!” While it might sound silly, it’s great advice for any course. Don’t come to class with pre-determined expectations of how your instructors will perform. Make the judgement for yourself because sites like this one are often biased either to believe the instructor is really good or really bad at their job, and you’ll come to class with a faulty perspective of who they are. Understand that instructors are not out to “eat your face” because they seem a little intense. The truth is that those who have made it this far in life have a deep desire to help others understand what they’re passionate about—they want you to succeed! However, if you do ever find yourself struggling, don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. Voice your concerns because if you don’t speak up, they won’t know how they can do better. It’s your learning experience. Make it the best it can be.

Grace Kraniak, Profiles Editor

The Driftwood #23: February 25, 2022

News, Events, and Happenings on the Marinette Campus

Buccaneer Logo

The Driftwood is our student-centered e-newsletter for the Marinette campus. We’ll bring you tips for navigating life as a masked-and-distanced or online student, as well as suggestions for entertaining yourself while you’re social distancing.

  • Campus News 1
  • Campus News 2
  • Campus Services: Career Services
  • Movie Recs: The Trilogy Edition
  • World Films: The Middle East
  • Recommended Reads
  • Podcast Picks
  • Gamer’s Corner
  • The Trash Vortex: ’80s Movies
  • Local Favorites: Last-Minute Winter Activities
  • Self-Care Corner: Spring Cleaning for the Mind
  • Recipe Roundup: Bachelor’s Banquet
  • Storytellers #1
  • Storytellers #2
  • Storytellers #3
  • Storytellers #4
  • Storytellers #5
  • Poetry Corner
  • Travel Tales: Trash Travels
  • Real Talk #1: Celebrity Q&A
  • Real Talk #2: Humanizing Our Professors

The Driftwood is published by the UWGB Practicum in Literary Publishing class.

Book Recs Editor: Grace KraniakCelebrity Q&A Editor: Will KosmalDiversity Editor: Shannon RibichFlash Fiction Editor: Serenity BlockGaming Editor: Will KosmalLocal Favorites Editor: Sydney HansenMovie Reviews Editor: Shannon RibichPodcast Reviews Editor: Serenity BlockRecipe Roundup Editor: Jake PuestowSelf-Care Editor: Grace KraniakSerial Fiction/Poetry Editor: Jake PuestowSuccess and Travel Stories Editor: Conner TuthillTrash Vortex Editor: Shannon RibichWorld Films Editor: Jake Puestow

Interested in being on the Driftwood staff? Enroll in ENG 224: Practicum in Literary Publishing for the spring 2022 term.

Questions or News Items? Contact The Driftwoods advisor, Tracy Fernandez Rysavy.

The Driftwood #23: Campus News

February 25, 2022

Submit Your Work for a Student Art Exhibition

MNT art gallery

Art professor Lydia Dildilian invites all UWGB student artists to submit their work for a student exhibition in the Marinette campus Fine Art Gallery. The exhibition is juried, meaning your work will be selected by a panel through a competitive process. (In other words, it will be a great element for your resume and portfolio!) If your art earns a spot in the exhibition, it will be on display in the theater-building gallery from March 26th through May 6th. Media for prospective pieces include the following: painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, illustration, video art, installation, digital art, and mixed media. The submission deadline is March 10th, and notifications will be sent by email on March 14th. To apply, fill out this application form. The form link also contains additional information about the competition and exhibit.

Register Now for Summer Classes

Summer 2022 registration is now open! Online classes are available in 4-week, 6-week, 8-week, and 10-week sessions. Financial Aid may be available for those who have completed the 2022-23 FAFSA and then complete the Summer Financial Aid application. Make an appointment with your Advisor through the Navigate app if you’d like assistance choosing summer courses.