It's interesting that you experienced Zelda vicariously through your child's playthrough. Sometimes shared experiences can be just as meaningful, and it's a cool milestone for both of you! [Link]

Hey, long time no talk! How's things? Did you finally beat Vanquish?!

'Tis the season of meaning to reply in a speedier way but life, man.

Very glad to hear you guys weren't impacted by the fires. Definitely a few stressful nights. Had a full house and we know a few who lost their homes but personally no impact.

Haha yea it's a crazy milestone to hit. I'm even finding myself sit at night reading and he'll just sit there playing Mario, or Zelda, or Spider-Man (which he already wrapped and is upset he can't talk about the ending with me yet). He took a stab at Dead Space but that's one he prefers to watch me play as it scares him too much haha. That's why it's slow going. Can't play it unless he's there.

While I've definitely been keeping up with my spooky movies I've definitely let my spooky games slip. Going to try and get through Dead Space today or tomorrow, and then it's Alan Wake 2 when I get a copy. My wife is really interested in that one so we're going to couch co-op it I think.

Most importantly though: CONGRATULATIONS! That is such great news. Belated marital congratulations, and it sounds like the honeymoon was great. White Caps games are such a blast.

Which Canucks game are you going down for?

I always go down for the Leafs game (to watch them lose), but my oldest wants to go to more games so I'm thinking of just biting the bullet and going down for some Canucks games if we can swing it.

Your boys are off to a *START*. The first ten games are always chaos, but it's a great way to set up for the season. Hopefully it's not start hot and then regress too much. My main point of frustration with the Canucks is the hot and cold, be middling. Not bad enough for amazing draft picks, not good enough for playoffs/deep run. That being said with the Oilers and Flames being as bad as they are there's a good chance if they keep even half the pace they're at!

Yea I was not stoked on losing Dubai or adding Trev initially, but something had to change... and ultimately I hang that on Shanny. I haven't hated what Trev has done and we're off to a pretty great start (we normally don't go 500 on long road trips, but to go 3-1-1 I think is pretty darn good). His final tenure in Calgary made me nervous, but not being in the situation where the stars want out and signing albatross contracts (Naz and Hube) is good. Matthews extended... I'm just worried about Nylander. PAY THE MAN!

Anyways, so happy to have hockey chaos back. Bring on the pain.

Hey! Things are good I think? This was definitely one of those "blink and it's over" summers. Honestly got so busy that it flew by. The fires for the half of August didn't really help unfortunately (we're good).

I started but never finished Zelda unfortunately! One of my kids dove in headfirst and played the heck out of it though. I watched most of it through his play through which was honestly just as exciting. I'm looking forward to getting into it on my own one day, but I really enjoyed it from afar. Was a milestone I think. Me watching, him playing.

I see you've started into the spooky season games already! I'm trying to decide what I'm going to play for spooky this year. Maybe an Alan Wake run before 2 arrives.

Hockey gets played this month! I'm looking forward to this season. I'm ready to be hurt again.

Beyond losing yourself to Zelda how was your summer? Hope it was great!

Ha... yea... I don't know what I was thinking? It took me a good chunk of time to even defeat the well spirit.

I'm taking the "it'll be very very hard in the beginning, but will get better the more you play and the more powerful you get" approach. We'll see.

Elden Ring is a spectacular first game of the year! That's another one I need to go back and do another run of.

How are you enjoying it so far? I had very limited Souls experience prior to Elden Ring, and loved every moment with it. It made me want to go back (which is why I have a half finished DS1 run sitting in my list haha).

Haha I'm easing myself in.

I've been holding off for it to be my 'final game' for the longest time, but priorities and time being what they are I don't know when that will be and damnit I want to play it. With the next-gen update coming in hot, them working on the next instalment, and it being roughly *7* years old it's time.

Plus I decided to start it on Death March difficulty. How hard can it be?! (pretty hard at the start!)

Lol once again on those delayed responses. Ended up on family vacation and was gone for 3 weeks.

Edmonton got Jack! I'm super stoked he got his bag. Awesome guy, but glad it wasn't us that paid him for term.

You guys got Mikhayev! That's one of those contracts that is super risky. I love the guy and boy is he fast, but his shot is oof. He if figured that out he'll be great for you guys. Plus on the Nucks he's a lot more likely to get more top line minutes and PP time. He was good on the PK too. Hope he thrives in Van.

We got Murray! And Samsonov! And a bunch of other guys I'm kind of into! Need to shed some salary though.

Also that Calgary and Florida trade?!?! Calgary won HUGE I think. The Atlantic is just.. ugh.

And while it's late the final WAS awesome. Was very happy to see Naz hoist the cup. Scary how good Colorado is.

You're playing Guardians! I found that game very surprising. Really enjoyed it. Nothing that's going to reinvent a genre or usher in a new age, but what a great time.

I am very delayed in this, due to... well, life... but yep.

The way I settled on it was... it didn't hurt less than previous years, and it definitely didn't hurt more. I don't know what you do differently. Was a great series, the Bolts just have the experience of knowing how to close it out. Taking the back to back champs to 7 and making Vasi look semi-human for the bulk of the series?

Shouldn't have been a round 1 series... ugh.

The rest of the 'yoffs have been absolutely crazy and bananas. The Battle of Alberta? Crazy. Avs sweeping the Oil? Lol Mike Smith.

THE RANGERS? Crazy days.