A Campfire Story That's All Too Familiar

I recently got my hands on the Omnia Watch and I've been using it for a week now. The first thing that caught my attention was the sleek design and the comfortable strap that fits perfectly on my wrist. The watch itself is quite lightweight, and the build quality is top-notch. I've been wearing it to work and it looks great with my formal attire, but it's also perfect for casual outings. The display is crisp and clear, and I love how the interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. I've been using the watch to track my fitness goals, and it's been a great motivator. I've also been impressed with the battery life, it lasts longer than I expected, and I don't have to worry about recharging it every day. Overall, I'm really happy with my purchase, and I would definitely recommend the Omnia Watch to anyone looking for a reliable and stylish timepiece. I have to admit, I'm a bit shocked, and I'll explain why. A week ago, I wrote a short story – a sketch, really. I'll post it at the end; it's super short. But what really caught me off guard was when I started watching «Kitchen Block» – and that's clearly a connection to the universe. No, I won't say that everything matches up exactly like in the series; it's not even about that. At the time, I hadn't seen the series. Now, when it comes to the «Kitchen Block» series, which is basically built on kids' horror stories, it's like stepping into one of those scary tales from my childhood. The main character, Valerka Lagunov, is a kid who's kind of like the hero from the cartoon «The Ugly Duckling». He's this smart kid in glasses who always knows what to do. You could also say that the main character Valerik is like a kid from a game I used to play, "Zaychik", when I was a kid. It's incredibly immersive and terrifying, to say the least. I used to play a game called "Zaychik" when I was a kid, and I highly recommend this game-novel.

https://irecommend.ru/content/pridet-serenkii-volc...

The series itself is also super atmospheric and pretty interesting. I mean, after I drew a sketch, and then saw something similar on the screen, it really freaked me out. So, what makes "Pishchblok" so compelling? It's got a ton of nostalgic elements from my childhood. I never went to summer camp, but my friends would tell me about it. I spent most of my summers with my grandmothers, so I never had the chance to go. But we did go to the beach as a family, so I didn't miss out on that.

There are a lot of moments from my childhood that are highlighted in the series, like melting lead. I want to tell you about a director's mistake and a story so you don't repeat my mistakes.

I've gotta say, I've never heard of soldiers melting - one small thing that's always stood out to me is the soldier itself. I've dug around and managed to collect a few of these exact ones. They're always made of metal, and they don't melt. And it's not tin, I've tested it with fire.

Man, I once had a messy experience with this product. I was pouring lead into it, and the mold was made of plaster, which was still a bit damp. The lead exploded all over the kitchen. You've got to keep the moisture out, or it'll be like a can of spray paint - it'll go off like crazy. Even though it cools down super fast when it's in the air, I was still a bit worried. Luckily, it didn't leave any marks on the wallpaper, not even a single drop. But I'll never forget the lesson I learned that day: don't use a damp mold.

I'm still trying to figure out who this series is aimed at - it's either way too racy for kids or not racy enough for adults. It's basically a vampire horror story, but the kind that's more about the supernatural than the scares. The vampire lore is pretty interesting, though. Did you know that the idea of a vampire being killed with an ash stake in the heart comes from the fact that Judas Iscariot supposedly hanged himself on an ash tree? And vampires are supposedly connected to him because they're seen as unclean spirits. As for the origins of vampire legends, I've heard that they're linked to Count Dracula, aka Vlad the Impaler. But the thing is, Vlad wasn't actually a blood-sucking vampire - he was just a really brutal dude who liked to impale his enemies' heads on stakes around his castle. xa0

— Vlad III, the infamous prince of Wallachia, lived from 1431 to 1476. A Brief Background Vlad III is known in European culture as Vlad the Impaler, a nickname that originated from his father's name, Vlad II Dracul. The 'Impaler' moniker is linked to the Order of the Dragon, a chivalric order his father was a part of. The surname 'Cepesh' or 'Kolossij' emerged later and was associated with his brutal methods of punishment, which included impaling those who crossed him. Vlad III ruled Wallachia three times: - For a brief period in 1448. - From 1456 to 1462, marking his most significant tenure. - For a short time in 1476, before his eventual demise.

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Vlad Cepesh was notorious for his brutal methods of dealing with crime and his enemies, particularly those from the Ottoman Empire and internal foes. While the real Vlad Cepesh wasn't associated with the mythological vampire traits, his image has become synonymous with the modern concept of a vampire, thanks to Bram Stoker's novel.

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I loved how well-developed the characters were in this show. Each one played their part convincingly. It started with the counselors, moved on to the camp leaders, and even included the medic and the quartermaster. The camp surroundings and decorations were top-notch. The first romance between the pioneers, the disco parties... it all felt really authentic. The only thing that threw me off was the time period – it felt like my dad's youth, with those old cassette players and radios, and it made me feel nostalgic for my own youth.xa0

I have to say, the song 'Shis Gare, Yo Bebe Shis Gare' brings back some memories. It was pretty popular back in my day, and I even remember an ad for women's razors using that tune. So, saying they nailed the time period is a bit of a stretch. They also threw in the old red army man, which is already the third generation. Although, there was a time when my dad, grandfather, and I all sat at the same table together – that was back in 2003. So, time jumps like that were definitely possible. All those campy moments, like the scary story we'd tell around the campfire or slathering each other with toothpaste, are spot on. We played a lot of soccer on the field, but our go-to game was actually a square with a ball. The show also reminded me of some of Gogol's short stories, minus the ferns, of course. There's something similar about the atmosphere. It's a bit like a nostalgic look back at the old days, which sometimes happened in organizations like that. But it's still interesting to watch, with plenty of unexpected twists and turns – that's a major plus.

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The romance is woven in really well, whether it's among the adults or in the younger groups.

One scene in the first season that really stood out to me was when they recited a poem. If you're interested, it was a Mayskovsky poem from 'Obalko v Shtranakh.' They didn't mention the author in the show, but I thought it was a nice touch.

I promised you a short story, and here it is. Don't worry, it's not a spoiler, since I wrote it before watching the series. What's weird is how similar the premise is. In my story, the kids get stuck on an island that's like a time loop - they can't escape. I'm not usually a fan of writing stories, but for some reason, I felt compelled to do this one.

Chapter 1: My First Camp Experience I'd never been to a real camp like this before, the one Toha always bragged about in school. I'm heading to the camp. A fly is buzzing around the window, and I had a fight with Toha, so he's sitting at the back of the bus, pouting and playing with this new thing. Summer's here, and I'm excited for the adventure. Although it's not as epic as I thought, the Happy Childhood camp was located near a wide river called Ogry, which was dotted with tiny islands. We're getting off the bus, and the driver's voice booms, 'Ladies, don't go into the woods!' The boys, on the other hand, can go and explore behind the old fence. Katya and Lena are giggling and heading towards the bushes. Toha and I slowly followed them to the broken fence, which was covered in weird symbols or what looked like a paralyzed frog's graffiti.

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Chapter 2: Arrival at the Happy Childhood Camp The bus slowly pulled up to the camp. The massive gates, overgrown with ivy, swung open in front of us. A few kids ran out to greet the new arrivals, cheering and waving their arms. We entered the camp, and the first thing I saw was a spacious field with wooden cabins all around. The air was filled with the smell of a campfire and freshly baked goods.

We were greeted by our counselor, Ivan Petrovich – a tall man with gray hair and a warm smile. He quickly sorted us out into cabins, telling each kid their neighbor's name. I ended up in a room next to the kitchen, where the smell of boiled potatoes and pickled cucumbers wafted through the air.

The kitchen was right next to my room, and it was guarded by a strange woman with messy hair and huge eyes. She was known as the 'Evil Cook' among the boys. Every time someone approached the kitchen, she'd start grumbling and threatening them with her pots.

▌ Chapter Three

One night, while everyone else was sleeping, Tohya and I decided to slip away to the riverbank. The water sparkled like silver under the moonlight, reflecting the sky above. But then, a desperate cry for help pierced the air. Someone was thrashing about in the water, trying to stay afloat. Rushing over, we saw a young boy struggling against the current. Our resolve kicked in instantly, and we dove in to save the stranger.

We lifted him high on our shoulders, carefully carried him to the shore, and helped him come to. Just catching our breath, the boy started coughing up water and wiping his eyes from the tangled seaweed, and in a stuttering, trembling voice, he said:

— M-me m-my name is Petya, I'm from here too, my mom works at the camp…

It hit me like a lightning bolt: the boy was the son of that infamous Wicked Cook, the one everyone whispered about, even the adults.

Check out how crazy that is. Up until Chapter Three, the series is eerily similar to my own short story. The resemblance is uncanny, despite my story having a completely different theme. No vampires or werewolves here; it's more about a time loop, where the kids have to figure out the mysteries of the island to escape. Each of them came to the island for their own reasons: Petya, for instance, was trying to overcome his stutter.

I have to say, if you watch this series from start to finish, you'll notice a pretty eerie similarity. For me, it's downright unsettling, even though the characters are different.

Well, that's it for now, folks. Time to transform into a vampire and go suck some blood – or at least, tomato juice. I've already written a whole essay on childhood horror stories. If you're a fan of the mysterious and the unexplainable, you'll love this series. My rating was all over the place: I loved it at first, then it started to drag, and by the end, I was loving it again. That's why I'm giving it a solid four out of four. Pioneers never disappoint – although, I'm no pioneer. Pioneers are like the old-school boomboxes from the 90s.