I used to call my best friend, Tyler, on a daily basis.

Now it is important to note that as far as best friends went (chronologically), Tyler fell between Jim and Austin. Jim and Austin were both very assertive individuals. I don't think it a stretch to suggest that they had found a nice medium between mindless aggression and "doormat."

Jim shot a pigeon with a pellet gun

Jim played baseball and "Magic the Gathering" and "Doom" and "Jane's Combat Flight Sim" and he had a dog and cut a worm in half once. I liked doing what Jim did but never really offered suggestions for activities. There were two times that Jim and I encountered confrontation. One time we got angry at each other at baseball practice. This other time I deleted a school paper that was saved on his computer (it was supposed to be funny... like a joke). After we entered fifth grade, Jim became quite popular and my time spent with him grew shorter. When he moved to Washington we were friends at best.

I called him some six months later:

Jules: Hi, can I speak with Jim?
Jim: This is Jim. (see I already knew that but had quite a structure for the format of my phone calls)
Jules: Hi Jim, this is Jules. I recently bought "Jane's Combat Flight Sim" and wondered if you wanted to play with me over the internet.
Jim: Umm... well see, we are still unpacking and we haven't really set our computer up yet.
Jules: Oh... Ummm... Ok. (At this point my mother is mouthing things like "Ask him about school", "his new house", etc.)
Jim: I'm not quite sure when we are going to get it all set up.
Jules: Ok. Mmmm... bye.
Jim: ... bye.

I never talked to Jim again but soon after found Tyler. Oh wait, I need to tell you about Austin.

Yeah, I listen to John Denver

Austin was my hero. We lived a block from each other and went to the same middle school. Austin was quite possibly the most popular boy at CVMS (...go vikings). During the time we were friends Austin and I shared a love for basketball, tennis, and "The Sims." He used to call me up and we would go and play tennis together. One time, while waiting to be picked up from the tennis court I let Austin in on a little secret. He was the first person outside of my family to know and it went a little something like:

I am... not... the way you think I am.

I don't know if Austin was impressed but we laughed a lot more after that.

Anyway, I think I'm getting sidetracked. I used to call Tyler on a daily basis. Unlike Jim and Austin, Tyler was a bit more like me... a bit less decisive. Our conversations varied little from day to day:

Jules: Hi Tyler, do you wana play?
Tyler: Sure.
Jules: What do you want to do?
Tyler: Mmm, I don't know, whatever.
Jules: Well, I don't care.
Tyler: But, I mean, what do you want to do?
Jules: ... Whatever you want to do.

We would carry on in such a way for a good hour before finally coming to a conclusion. The end activity was always Nintendo64 or basketball. Now, I was secretly addicted to the N64. My parents wouldn't allow me to spend more than 1.5 hours each day playing video games or watching TV. It was always grand to slip over to Tyler's and indulge in a four hour gaming session.

Parents: Remember your time limit.
Jules: OK.

*four hours later*

Parents: How was Tyler's?
Jules: Gooood... we played with his dog... and birds...

But I'm getting sidetracked again. I always hoped that we would end up playing Nintendo but was too afraid to say so. Plus I guess a little variety makes it more enjoyable...

The point

Anyway, I've since come to find pleasure in making decisions. There is something very satisfying about getting your way. And even if I happen to be indifferent on a topic, knowing that I can control the outcome is very empowering. Therefore, in an attempt to find greater self worth and play with a new toy, may I present:

Decision Maker