Less than two weeks ago I, like the majority of Americans, made the annual journey of gratitude that has become a holiday to spend time with loved ones, eat a couple extra pieces of pie, and generally enjoy sleeping alot.  However, this year I had a surprise waiting for me and not just the excellent glaze on the ham.  Up until this weekend my primary hobby was shunned during the holidays; hidden in the attic or tops of closets to avoid the shame and stigma of my wife being married to a "gamer." 

However, beneath the frilly apron of my mother-in-law lies the heart of a rocker.  And that blood runs through the family as she and my wife proved it during a five-hour jam session after we unboxed one of the coolest games of all-time: Rock Band. 

Basically, Rock Band is multi-platform, multi-player rhythm game...er, it's Guitar Hero with two guitars, a microphone, and a drum kit.  Plainly stated, it is awesome.  And to me this game was proof as to the new entertainment vehicle of gaming.  All my life I could never get anyone in my family to pick up a normal controller to join in on a level of Double Dragon or a duel in Samuri Showdown, but now the console became a fun family activity!

Depicting a similar experience over Thanksgiving holiday are the ambassadors of avatars over at Penny Arcade.  Not only was this an eye-opening experience of introducing my mother-in-law to the medium, but it was the real enjoyment we all had and the common goal of making the song sound good.  During the marathon of songs, I found myself worrying less about score and more about having fun. 

Who would have thought that my mother-in-law would have shown me how to enjoy video games?