Brookfield Wannabe

I did a very brave thing last night.  I went to a Zumba exercise class. 

It was a brave act on many fronts.  First, I probably haven't done any real cardio exercise since Ms. Kemp's aerobics class at Burleigh Junior High.  Second, I attended the class with my sister-in-law who is a decade younger than I am.  Third, the class was open to anyone 16 or older, so there was the nagging fear that I would be Zumba-ing amidst people more than two decades younger.  Fourth, have I ever mentioned that I have an artificial hip joint? 

What is Zumba?  Zumba is best described as latin dancing aerobics.   Here's a clip from The Today Show, featuring the man who created Zumba.  The first few minutes of the clip showcase testimonials.  If you want to just watch the demonstration, you can skip ahead to about 3:45 in the video.

Needless to say, I was a bit nervous about the class.  I had only two goals:

1. To Not Hurt Myself; and

2. To Not Throw Up

I am proud to say that both goals were achieved. 

Both my sister-in-law and I really enjoyed the class.  We both like to dance, and it was a lot more fun than regular aerobics.  What I really found beneficial was that I could "tone down" the intensity of the moves to a level that was comfortable for me and still work up a pretty good sweat.   Apart from a few twinges on either side of my waist, due to all the hip-swiveling action,  I emerged relatively ache-free, although I do admit to downing some Tylenol as a preventative measure before I went to bed.

Interested in giving it a try?  I know that a few health clubs do offer Zumba classes, but the instructor who taught my class will soon be opening a studio in Brookfield on Bluemound Road.  It will offer yoga, pilates, and dance fitness classes, in addition to Zumba.  The studio is still undergoing construction, and the website is not up and running yet.  I'll post the information when I confirm that the studio is open.

As with any other type of exercise, check with your physician before beginning an exercise program, especially if you have any health problems or concerns.

I did, and my ortho doc gave me the greenlight, so long as I didn't do any hardcore jumping.  I of course was happy to comply. :-) 

Hello, I'm back!  And now that I'm back, unfortunately, I've got nothin'... and it is all The Spouse's fault. 

I've been writing this blog for two years, and in all that time, The Spouse has never asked that I refrain from writing about a particular topic.  Until two days ago.

So, a "situation" has presented itself that for me falls under the  "I don't want to do this but I'll suck it up and do it anyway" category of marital duties.  Then, I was struck by inspiration and thought, hey, this would make a darn funny blog.  I mentioned it to The Spouse.  This is how the conversation went.

Me: You know, this topic would make a really funny blog.  I could write about...

The Spouse:  I'd rather you didn't.

(So, then my hackles are up because (a) I'm basically going to be forced to do something that I don't want to do and (b) now I can't even write about it on my own gosh darn blog.)

Me:  (incredulous) Are you actually forbidding me to write about it?

The Spouse:  I'm not forbidding you to do anything.  I'm just saying that I'd rather you didn't.

 
Now the thing about writing out this conversation is that I cannot convey to you the way in which The Spouse made the above statement.  He used THE TONE.  So, although he technically did not forbid me to blog about it, the use of THE TONE was meant to indicate that a whole lot of bad would rain down on my head if I so much as typed two words about it. 

And of course my first inclination was to do it anyway with thoughts of "well, you're not the boss of me" running through my head.  But I didn't.

It did, however, get me thinking about how far I would be willing to go in writing a blog.

When I first started blogging two years ago, I only had vague notions of what a blog was.  What was supposed to be a blog about Brookfield has become less about the city itself and more about my life in the city and its surrounds.  And that is where the problem lies because my life is not just about me -- it's about my husband, my children, and my friends.

When I first started, I didn't fully grasp the reach and permanency of putting something into cyberspace.  Nor did I realize the phenomenon of "anonymous intimacy" that takes place between bloggers and their readers -- a relationship that can generate sympathetic comments as well as venomous ones.  

It comes down to a question of exposure.  How much information is too much? 

I've engaged in a little self-censorship.  I purposely don't identify my spouse, kids, and friends by their full name, and I still hesitate to post pictures of my family on the blog, although I kind of go back and forth about that.  

Wondering if there was such a thing as a "code of ethics" for bloggers, I googled just that, and sure enough, here's a sample of what I found.

I've also read material from other bloggers who've struggled with the same issues. Take for example this local blogger: Fish Out of Water.

So, I've come up with my own code: 

Thou shalt thinketh before thou blogeth.  And then thou shalt thinketh again.

I think that should cover about anything.
 

Yeah, right. 

I will be turning 41 in a few days.  Turning 40 sucked.  Turning 41?  Pretty much sucks too.  But as they say, it's better than the alternative.

Once you hit 40, there is no escaping it -- you are middle-aged, baby.  And now I finally understand the "Mid-Life Crisis".

It's like juggling. 

In your late teens and twenties, and maybe even thirties, you set certain "life goals" for yourself. Those goals are the "balls."  In your twenties, you finish school and get your career going.  So, your job is the first ball that you have to keep in the air. 

Then, you add the second ball -- maybe that's marriage or simply a relationship or maybe even just owning your own home.  Now, you've got two balls going. 

Then, in your thirties, children -- that's worth at least two more balls.  If you're like me and have an aging parent or parents who need help, that's another ball.

Then, you hit 40 and you feel a little lost because you're not reaching towards anything anymore.  Your life is more about just keeping those balls in the air.

That is when the crisis strikes, and you consider dyeing your ever-encroaching gray hair and buying a black, convertible Porsche Carrera Cabriolet, so that at least you can look good and drive a hot car while you juggle all those darn balls. 

But really, is there any age that is the "golden" age?

Based on what I remember and what I've observed with my stepdaughter, being a teenager is certainly no walk in the park -- hormones, acne, braces, high school drama.

21 maybe?  At 21, I was still in school and living at home.  Money? Well, not much to speak of.  Love life?  Had a boyfriend, but he wasn't much to speak of either in retrospect. 

30?  Living in an apartment but still in early stages of career -- meaning I was working like a dog while being low man on the law firm totem pole.  Broke up with aforementioned boyfriend and had to start dating (!!) again.  

Every age of life has its ups and downs.  Middle-age is maybe not so much about moving forward as it is about learning to enjoy what we've accomplished.  And those balls that we juggle?  Those aren't things that drag us down; they are things that we should value and be proud of.

The moral of this story?

In living life, you gotta have balls. :-)

I have to thank Karen Waldkirch from WauwatosaNow for turning me on to the book Not Quite What I was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure.  The idea for this compilation is based on a legend.  Supposedly, someone challenged Ernest Hemmingway to write a story in six words.  This is what he came up with:

"For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

I know.  Blows you away, doesn't it?  So, based on this legend, SMITH Magazine invited its readers to submit their own six-word memoirs, and the result is this fascinating book.  Here are some of my favorites.

"Revenge is living well, without you." -- Joyce Carol Oates

"Veni, vedi, but haven't vici yet." -- Meenakshi Nandini

"I still make coffee for two." -- Zak Nelson

"Girlfriend is pregnant, my husband said." -- Shonna MacDonald

"I live the perfect imperfect life." -- Paul Lore

The book is a quick read, and I was amazed at what people were able to come up with.  Side-splittingly funny, heart-breakingly poignant, jaw-droppingly shocking -- it's all there.

What would mine be?  Well, I've been mulling that one over since finishing the book.  Although I'm not sure it quite hits the nail on the head, here's what I've come up with so far:

 
"Still trying to find my purpose."

 
It's still a work in progress.  (Hey, that's six words too.  Maybe I should use that?)
 

SMITH is still accepting submissions if you want to give it a try.  (Or if anybody wants to share theirs here, feel free to comment.)

It's spring cleaning time in our house, and I am once again confounded by what to do with an old television set.  Then, this morning, I saw a commercial for an electronic recycling event in Milwaukee, and took this as a sign from God.  But excitement turned to dismay when I read the small print at the bottom of the screen that said proof of residency in the City of Milwaukee was required in order to participate.

So, I googled around for some local recycling options and came upon this interesting article.   Unfortunately, the article didn't address my T.V. problem.

But lo and behold, today, while perusing my blogging colleague Cindy Kilkenny's site, Fairly Conservative, I found the answer to my T.V. dilemma -- a Brookfield e-cycling event.
 

Happy Earth Day. 

About two weeks ago, a few of the "moms" from my daughter's class and I had lunch at Cafe Manna, the vegetarian restaurant at the Towne Centre.  Mom #1 admits to occasional bouts of vegetarianism.  As she puts it, "sometimes we're vegetarian, and sometimes we're not."  Mom #2, although not vegetarian, does not drink soda of any kind and practices yoga.  Then, there is me -- the soda-drinking carnivore who thinks yoga is surely part of Dante's Third Circle of Hell.

But I was willing to give it a shot.  So, we decided to have lunch on a weekday after we dropped our kids off at school.  Although it was the noon hour, the restaurant was not that busy, and we didn't have any problems getting a table.  Finding a parking place, however, was a little difficult.  Two of us ended up parking in the Sendik's lot.  (Cafe Manna is in the same building as the Four Seasons Coffee shop.)

I'm not sure why, but when I walked in, I thought of California.  Maybe it was the colors -- beiges, greens, browns.  It was very bright, lots of light wood, all tables- no booths.   No soda or alcohol is served here, but there is coffee, an assortment of teas, caffeinated and non-caffeinated, and a variety of waters, including my favorite Izze, a blend of sparkling water and fruit juice in a range of flavors (grapefruit, pomegranate, e.g.), which can be found at Sendik's and Grasch's.

To start things off, we, along with the other diners, were served a small, complimentary appetizer, a small mound of cashew hummus, served with crackers and bread.  The cashew flavor was very subtle.

Mom #1 and I ended up ordering the same thing: the soup of the day - Asparagus and Mushroom Bisque ($6.25) and the Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Crostini appetizer ($8.50).

We both loved the soup.  The asparagus and the mushrooms had been pureed into a smooth bisque, and small bits of diced asparagus were added in.  I might have liked a bit more of the diced asparagus, but the soup was a hit. 

Although billed as a "Tasty Beginning," the mushroom and goat cheese crostini was pretty substantial in size; neither one of us was able to finish it.  The toasted bread was heaped with a "wild mushroom duxelle" and topped with an herbed goat cheese mixture.  Although I really liked the flavors, by the time I got to my third piece, the mushroom-cheese mixture had made the middle of the bread soggy.

Mom #2 had the Toasted Millet Vegetable Salad ($8.50).  Another substantial dish, the salad consisted of a mesclun mix with chickpeas, red and yellow bell peppers, Vidalia onions, carrots, sugar snap peas, topped with toasted millet and dressed with a curry-miso vinaigrette. 

Other salads that looked interesting were the Arugula Salad with Avocado and Pear ($10.75) and the Ribboned Zucchini and Herbed Salad ($8.25).

There were also a variety of sandwiches and entrees:  Baked Falafel and Citrus Tahini sandwich ($7.25), and the Sesame Encrusted Tofu with Asparagus and Sun-Dried Tomato Risotto ($14.75), to name a few.

There are also several "extras" (sides).  For example, Celeriac Whipped Yukon Potatoes ($3.75) and Wasabi Scented Spinach Red Potato Salad ($3.75).

I was the only one who ordered dessert.  I had the Ginger Macadamia Nut Carrot Cake ($5.75).  The slice I got was big enough to feed at least two people.  It was regular carrot cake but pumped up a couple of notches with the addition of macadamia nuts, coconut, and crystallized ginger.  It was yummy.

The website for Cafe Manna is still under construction, but it still provides a sample menu (without prices), directions to the restaurant, and its business hours. Take-out menus are available at the front desk.

Cafe Manna does not have a children's menu.  The ladies' room did not have a changing table, but it has an interesting little toiletry cabinet.  A quick check revealed what looked like mouthwash, accompanied by disposable paper cups, hairspray, and lotion.  Thoughtful. 

When it came time to box up the leftovers, mine were housed in biodegradable containers.  The bag that I carried everything in was recyclable.

Although I liked what I had, I have to wonder whether a restaurant like Cafe Manna will ultimately succeed in Brookfield.  On the other hand, I wish Brookfield had more of these small, independent restaurants that think outside of the box.

(No one at Cafe Manna knew I was coming nor did the owners/management of the restaurant invite me to dine there.)

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 CORRECTION:  Per a reader, Cafe Manna does serve some alcohol.  See the Comment from KMB below.  Sorry for the error.

The family and I recently returned from a vacation in California, and I decided to take a short blogging break during the frenzied days before the local referendum/elections.  I was particularly interested in the results of the municipal judge race, where it appears that my law school classmate, Jeff Warchol, may well be on his way to a judgeship.  The recount, in case you haven't heard, is scheduled for Tuesday.

I'm currently still catching up on my laundry and other household tasks, while mulling over a few new blog ideas, including a restaurant review of my experience at Cafe Manna, the new vegetarian restaurant in the Towne Centre.

I hope to get something new posted in the next day or two! 

You have to take this test.  The Spouse and I both failed.

Do The Test. 

"And since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"

Wait a minute... it's March right? This is supposed to be Spring?! 

I was watching the snow storm coverage on Channel 12, and according to meterologist Mark Baden, once this storm is done, this winter season will rank as the #2 snowiest season on record.  I guess we haven't had this much snow since the 1800's.

Happy Easter!

And why is Easter so early this year?  Here's the explanation. 

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Speaking of Easter, last night, I asked The Spouse to stop at the drugstore after work to buy candy for The Preschooler's Easter basket.   When he arrived home, I asked what he got.  He said he got Hershey's Kisses and Dove Bars.

My Response:  Hershey's Kisses?  Didn't they have any chocolate eggs or chocolate bunnies?

The Spouse's Reply:  There weren't any.

My Response:  But we were just there this morning, and the Easter aisle was still full of stuff.

The Spouse's Reply:  There's an Easter aisle??

Apparently, the Spouse just went to the regular candy section and failed to spot the huge, pastel-colored stuffed Easter bunny marker two aisles over. 

Showing remarkable Easter/Christian spirit restraint, I refrained from sending him back there that evening. 

This morning was a different story though... a 24/7 drugstore is on his way to work.

 
To all who celebrate Easter, I wish you and yours a blessed holiday.
 

Just yesterday, I posted a review of the restaurant Umami Moto.  As a reader noted, they did know I was coming, so read my "review" with that in mind. 

The reader's comment about anonymity reminded me of a blurb I read about the new Journal Sentinel restaurant critic, Carol Deptolla.

Umami Moto occupies the same space as the former Monsoon restaurant.  As I stated in my prior blog, I was not impressed by the "fusion" cuisine that Monsoon offered.  I dined only once at Monsoon and found the food to be so-so.  I never went back.  So, when I heard that Umami Moto was being billed as an asian fusion restaurant, I had my doubts, but I was willing to try it.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, we were greeted at the desk by the requisite cluster of young hostesses, only one of whom appears to actually be seating people -- a phenomenon I've noted at newer restaurants.  The restaurant has been redecorated, and the bar, The Sake Lounge, occupies the front, with a wall separating the bar from the main dining room.  A smaller, partially-enclosed dining area at the west end of the building is connected to the main dining room.  With contemporary decor and artwork, the restaurant appears to be going for a hip, downtown feel.  For a weeknight, the restaurant was moderately full.

What is "umami"?  Umami (pronounced oo-mommy) is the "fifth" element of taste (the others being sweet, salty, sour, and bitter).  Discovered by a Japanese chemist, Dr. Kikunae Ikeda, umami means "deliciousness" or "savoriness," or  it has also been described as a certain "roundness" of flavor.   I was a little skeptical.  I'd never heard of this concept.  But I checked with my friend who lived in Japan for a couple of years, and she confirmed it.

Shortly after being seated, we were treated to the umami experience by Chef Mark Schmidt.  First, he presented each of us with a bowl of broth, which I found to have a complex flavor all by itself.  Then, he added a little fish sauce. Then, he added a touch of soy.  After each addition, we tasted the broth.  The end result was supposed to deliver the umami flavor.  The Spouse claims he could taste "something" but really couldn't put it into words, but The Spouse can be somewhat susceptible to the power of suggestion.  Although I could taste the different flavors after each addition, I'm not sure I was really wrapping my taste buds around the whole umami thing.  To be treated to the umami experience, I believe you will have to ask for it because I did not notice other diners being offered the presentation that particular night.  Here is the umami experience as it was presented on Fox 6.

Umami Moto has a website, which features, among other items, a downloadable menu and pictures of the interior of the restaurant.  Click here to view. 

Based on prices, I would describe Umami Moto as an upper end restaurant, more suited for date night with your spouse rather than family dining.  I would also advise against taking younger children there, especially if you are working on the "we don't throw food on the floor" stage of child development.  There is no kids menu either.  A check of the restroom revealed no diaper changing station.

Because we were anxious to try something new, we did not order any of the sushi rolls available nor did we order any of the typical chinese dishes listed, like Beef and Broccoli or Kung Pao anything.

We ordered two appetizers: the Shanghai Pork Shumai and the Thai Chicken Wings.  Of the two, we liked the chicken wings the best.  The wings were marinated in coconut milk, which gave them a pleasant sweet taste -- but not overly sweet.  The wings were served with two sauces, a peanut sauce and a "volcano" sauce.  I liked the peanut sauce.  Although mostly sweet, it had a bit of heat to it.  The volcano sauce, although I found it slightly spicy, was not hot enough to satisfy my jalapeno-chewing Spouse.  The shumai dumplings were larger and juicier than what you find at Chinese restaurants.  The addition of coconut milk also imparted a Thai flavor to the pork, ginger filling.  Although we liked the filling, we thought the outer wonton wrapper was slightly undercooked.

We ordered two entrees, the Shitake Scallops and the Braised Pork Shank.  We also ordered two side dishes, the cold cucumber salad and the stir-fried eggplant.

I really enjoyed the scallops.  They were perfectly done, and the light shitake coating gave the sweet scallops an earthy richness.  I was especially intrigued by its accompaniment, "bamboo rice".  The best way to describe it is to imagine risotto formed into patties resembling small, fingerling potatoes and then fried until the exterior develops a thin, crisp crust.  Although I could have used a fork to cut it, I opted to eat it with my fingers.  Although I am usually a white rice purist, I liked the delicate taste of the bamboo rice.  It had texture without being too mushy.  The pork shank was huge.  The meat was done just right, fork-tender.  Although I liked the cherry reduction served with it, I didn't really taste the hoisin that it was supposed to have been braised in.  But I have to admit that I only had a few bites of the pork because I was busy devouring my scallops.

The cucumber salad was fine, although they could have cut back on the mirin vinaigrette.  It was kind of swimming in it.  Neither of us really liked the stir-fried eggplant.  It was overdone, and frankly, we've had better at other places.

Although we were both feeling pretty full by the end of the main courses, we couldn't leave without ordering dessert.  We ordered the Moto Bananas but told them to hold the ice cream because The Spouse is lactose intolerant.  Chef Mark, believing that just the bananas were just not enough, very kindly threw in some of the Mandarin Chocolate Spring Rolls.  Both desserts were good.  The chocolate spring rolls were very, very chocolate-y.  The Moto Bananas were like cinnamon, banana egg rolls.  If not for The Spouse's stomach, I would have enjoyed them better with the vanilla ice cream.

We had no complaints about the service.  Our waiter was attentive, and the meal was well-paced.  At the end of our dinner, our server informed us that because it was Thursday, it was Ladies Night.  There were drink specials in the Sake Lounge, and a DJ was going to start playing at 9 p.m.  When I was in college and law school, Thursdays were always a big night to go out, and I kind of felt that the restaurant was giving a nod to that social scene.  If that's the case, I'm not really sure how that will play out here in Brookfield.  But The Spouse had work the next day and we had a babysitter on the clock, so we couldn't stay to check out the bar scene.

Umami Moto has two strong things going for it: the intriguing umami concept and the enthusiasm of Chef Mark Schmidt.  We really enjoyed meeting Chef Mark.  When answering our questions about umami and the kind of fusion cuisine he was presenting, he was really excited about bringing something new to our area.

I found Umami Moto to be better than its predecessor, Monsoon. The restaurant is still fairly new, but I think it's certainly worth another visit.
 

Now that ol' Number 4 is hanging it up, Favre memorabilia is a hot commodity, but be careful that you don't get fleeced by Favre fakes. 

Here are some consumer tips from the Public Investigator Blog.

I turned on Channel 12 News and did a spit take with my coffee when I saw the Breaking News Alert.  According to the news spot, Fox News has announced that Brett Favre has announced his retirement.  Supposedly he announced his retirement to Mike McCarthy last night.  Some speculation that the news that Randy Moss signed elsewhere may have prompted Favre's decision to retire.

Channel 12 has been running the story as of 8:35 this morning.

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ADDENDUM: Mike McCarthy will hold a television news conference at 3:00 p.m. today.

If you read my blog about the new television show Cashmere Mafia, you know that I was a fan of the HBO television series Sex and the City.  While on the net a couple of days ago, I caught a trailer of the movie version of Sex and the City, which is set for release on May 30. I posted the clip below.

If Carrie is dumped by Mr. Big at the altar, I will have to beat on the HBO movie writers with a pair of stiletto Manolos, after downing a Cosmo.

John James Preston?

Watch the trailer on YouTube. 

I have had a crush on Johnny Depp ever since watching my first episode of "21 Jump Street," and now, it has been officially announced that he and Christian Bale will be in Wisconsin to film the movie "Public Enemies." 

Unfortunately, Brookfield will probably not be on the list of filming locales.  Sigh. 

Although I try not to indulge in my favorite "tall, non-fat, easy-whip mocha," after 2:00 p.m., due to the sleepness night that will inevitably follow, for those of you who like your Starbucks in the evening, you only have about another hour left today to get one.  All Starbucks operated stores across the country are closing for three hours, beginning at 5:30 p.m. local time, for some "barista re-education". 

I've been wondering when Cafe Manna, a new restaurant in the Towne Centre, was going to open.   I was particularly interested in what kind of cuisine was going to be featured.  Well, apparently it had its official opening on Monday, and it is a vegetarian restaurant.

Other than Beans and Barley on the East side, I can't think of another vegetarian restaurant in the area.

If any readers have tried Cafe Manna already, feel free to comment. 

Although I've been a registered voter since the age of eighteen, yesterday was the first time that I voted in a primary election for president.  Frankly, I haven't really cared much before, at least at this initial level, but this election excites me on many different levels.  I wanted to do my part to help my pick get on the ticket.  I hope you did too.

As The Spouse constantly likes to point out to me, I am drawn to people who have "presence" on the platform.  That is why I was particularly intrigued by a recent article at nytimes.com, The Charisma Mandate.

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As I was watching the election returns last night, I noticed that John Edwards, Ed Thompson, and, Rudy Giuliani all received votes.   I don't understand that.  Are they votes to signal dissatisfaction with the current slate of candidates?  Aren't you just "wasting" your vote when you cast it for someone not even in the race?

On a recent drive down Bluemound, I noticed signs for two new Asian restaurants: Umami Moto and Fujiyama.  Both restaurants are now open

Umami Moto occupies the same building as the now defunct Monsoon restaurant.  I had lunch at Monsoon only once and wasn't very impressed by the "Asian fusion" cuisine.  So, it was with some surprise that I read that Umami Moto will be featuring the "new" concept of Asian fusion.  If Monsoon was supposed to be a Chinese restaurant, this Asian totally missed that.  I'll give this new restaurant a try though, when it finally stops snowing!!

As an aside, if you want great, authentic Chinese food and don't want to drive to Chicago, send me an email and I'll give you the name of my fave Chinese restaurant in the Milwaukee area.  Alas, it is not in Brookfield.  Just click on the "Email author" tab at the top of my blog.

Fujiyama is in the same strip mall as the wonderful Indian restaurant, Saffron Bistro.  I've eaten at the Fujiyama in West Allis.  As I remember, it had a great selection of dishes, decent size portions, and reasonable prices.

But should we say sayonara to sushi?  

It seems that every other day I read an article that says something I do, inhale, or ingest is one day going to kill me.  I discovered the Public Investigator, a local blog, just recently.  As I scrolled through their recent entries, I read an article that is making me rethink my sushi eating.

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As I drive the snow-covered streets of Brookfield and points west, I long for a neon sign at the top of my minivan that flashes two different messages, depending on the situation:  "Slow-down you idiot!" or "Clean the ENTIRE car for pete's sake!" 

The magazine, Real Simple, asked its readers, "What is the secret to a good marriage?"

Here is the response that I liked the most.

Sent in by Cecilia Saad from Washington D.C.:

I once asked an elderly neighbor this very same question.  He and his wife had been married more than 50 years.  He replied, "Oh my dear, it's really very simple.  My wife and I agreed long ago that I'd make all the big decisions, and she'd make all the little decisions.  And in all these years together, there just haven't been any big decisions.