Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Are you KIDDING me???

What was one of the headlines on AOL news as I was checking my email? Here, here you go:

The air trapped inside the bag that is holding your newly dry cleaned laundry may up your risk of getting cancer.

Seriously people, let's get this straight right here and right now: EVERYTHING can cause cancer. Even the stuff that supposedly fixes cancer can cause cancer.

I am not trying to take having cancer lightly. Three of my grandparents died because of various forms of cancer. I know plenty of people who have cancer and are fighting it...

...but, seriously, come on.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!

26 years, three months and 12 days ago my Mom gave birth to me. She finally became a Mom which is something she always wanted to be, and I can't imagine a better one to have. My sister would agree, she is one of a kind. You can't help but be drawn to her, she is just so wonderful and loving and sweet and funny and giggly and patient and forgiving and steadfast...and I hope I can be just an ounce of what she is to me to my own children one day. 

Happy Birthday, Mommy. I love you!!!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

200 Evidently...and the trade off

Evidently this is post number 200, but I think that is inaccurate...there are drafts of posts that I never published listed on my blogposts and they seem to be counted in the final number, but anyways, here is to number 200!!!

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I traded in the 120 degree weather for 120% humidity! I am here. I have worked two days, I get my first paycheck Friday, I hopefully move into my more permanent residence in the next week. I got here well after Church was over with Sunday, but I have attended FHE and the last summer institute class already. One of the YSA here is a Masters in Music Theory student as well, so it will be WONDERFUL to have someone to actually talk with this time around about theory...the whole time I was here before I was the only theory student, so I am just counting myself lucky to have someone who is also a member of the Church around...no more study parties where I am the only one who is sober...:) although those were good times, I have to admit. I could tell such fun stories...

I am staying with my boss and his family until I can move into this house that is still in preparation. The first morning I woke up to my alarm going off at 6:00 and I was upset with myself that I hadn't fixed my alarm clock...as I attempted to go back to sleep all of a sudden I heard the all too familiar sounds of cartoons drifting through the air from the room beside me and two very sweet little girls giggling and laughing...I didn't really mind, it would have been a long shot for me to get back to sleep anyways. Plus it was just too cute...this family is just wonderful, and have been more than welcoming and accommodating for me...they have quite a few free baby-sitting jobs coming their way...

I will post pictures once I can post from my own laptop. I am using their family computer to make this post, so this will be the end of this one. I am still on Pacific time, and I NEED to get myself onto Central time...it's tough, at midnight here it feels like it's 10:00, at 6:30 it feels like being awake shouldn't be an option...

Night!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

FYI

I made it. I am tired. I have to work tomorrow...

I will blog...tomorrow...maybe...probably Tuesday though...

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Memory Tag...and it's just so not fair!

1. Add a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Have fun! :)

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So I am driving like a mad person today getting everything taken care of, and I drive by the closest Walmart (there are TWO Walmarts withing a 2 mile radius of my house, how does that work)...and I see this:

(k, not exactly this, cause people in AZ are not wearing jackets and sweaters right now)

....with a NOW OPEN sign next to it....

RIGHT NEXT TO MY HOUSE! K, a mile and a half away, but practically right next to my house.

WHY?!?!?!!!?!

A Quick Update

I just wanted to relay a few things that I am shocked by right now:
  • Things are working out for the better...I have hit a number of roadblocks, but things are working out! With the house, with work, with friends, with family, etc....
  • I haven't needed to use my face medication in like 3 weeks; I have had NO major acne problems!! If there was a time for the stress that is surrounding me to show on my face, it would be now and it's not...maybe I have FINALLY grown up!!!
  • I LOST TWO POUNDS! How, I have absolutely NO idea, you should see the junk I am eating...for example, Monday my team threw me a going away potluck and all I ate that day was sugar, white flour, frosting, chocolate, fruit mixed with whipped cream that was stored in high fructose corn syrup...yeah, you get the idea...junk junk junk junk junk...and I lost 2 pounds. Someone please explain this too me!
  • I will be in Alabama on Saturday...
  • I am not sick...I have every reason to be, but I am not...I am SO afraid that once I land there in Alabama I am going to be so sick...at least I have health insurance until the end of the month
  • I am losing my health, dental AND vision insurance at the end of the month...I have the option to extend it, but it is SOOOOO dang expensive...but it is even MORE expensive if, oh, say, I trip over another stupid dog and my knee gets blown and I have to have surgery again...you know what I did today? I slammed the door on my fingers...only one actually swelled up, it is throbbing now (probably doesn't help that I am typing with it)...I thought I broke it, but it moves so hopefully it's just a really bad bruise...yeah, can we say accident-prone?
  • I have SO MANY CLOTHES! I think I am going to have to ship a box of my clothing out to me...so afraid that it will get lost in the mail...that would suck SO bad...should put insurance on it, huh? The package, that is...I am DIing a lot of clothing that I just don't wear anymore, so this moving stuff is good in some ways
  • How awesome my friends and family are...k, I am not really so much shocked, as I am extremely happy to see little things coming through the woodworks through these amazingly wonderful peoples...

Saturday, July 12, 2008

My Schedule for the Next Week

Today: pack, clean, pack, clean, go to friends B'Day bash, MAYBE see some family...

Sunday: sleep in, Church, family (as much as I can see)

Monday: last day of work, pack whatever is left, replacing of the garbage disposal (hopefully), hang out with family for FHE hopefully or MAYBE go out to dinner with an aunt or...something...

Tuesday: clean, clean out garage a bit, pack all of my clothes, figure out how I am fitting everything (including Charlie Brown and Fragile----pronounced Fra-gee-lay----should be a doo-hickey over the e, but I don't know how to add that on using blogger...) into my car, go out on the town with a friend...

Wednesday: whatever is leftover from packing, cleaning, whatever, see family and friends...MAYBE leave for New Mexico this day...maybe...

Thursday: DEFINITELY leave for New Mexico if I haven't already...hang out with 'rents and sister and future bro

Friday: Drive to Oklahoma City or Little Rock...we shall see how I am doing by the time I get to Oklahoma, I will probably be beat, but whatev's...if you all have peoples I can stay with let me know...but I MAY just go ahead and get a hotel anyways...yes I am driving by myself...

Saturday: Drive to Tuscaloosa, Alabama...ROLL TIDE!!!

Sunday: Go to Church, happy reunions with friends, and some random stuff that fits in the 'other' category...

Monday: First day of work and back to the grindstone with the masters...wish me luck!

Wow...I can't believe it's here already..............slightly overwhelming...

Validation...and Moving Woes...

K, no one let me get my hair cut (unless it looks REALLY REALLY bad) before my sisters wedding. Elizabeth is growing her hair back out.

And I have been wanting to ever since I got it cut in...what was it, January? I just, I LIKE it long. It looked so good I thought. I needed to hear people say that it looks good long, because all I have heard recently was how good it looks short and to keep it that way...and I don't really think it does anymore...at least not right now. My point of view is, if I was a skinny toothpick, the hair being short wouldn't be a problem, it would look really great. But with me NOT being a skinny mini, it looks SO much better long.

My short hair DOES have it's days though when it is smokin'...but it is SO much easier to make smokin' hair when mine is long...

AND from what I know, most guys like long hair... :)

Why is that, by the way? Why do more guys tend to like long hair on girls? Just wondering...or is my observation incorrect?

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WHY is it that just before I move, the garbage disposal has to break. Huh? Thankfully I have an AWESOME cousin coming over Monday to replace the stupid thing. It's old, so it needs replacing anyways, but still!!!

I have a bunch of boxes that are too big. As mentioned before, I bought a moving kit from Sam's Club, put all the boxes together...and I really don't think I need the big boxes anymore. Luckily for me, I have a roommate that will need them (I think) so they will get used, but it kinda miff's me that I bought the thing thinking it would be great, when what I REALLY need is like 2 or 3 more of the smaller boxes...blah...

Yes, I am actually packing today, this is just me taking a break...from packing...I am starting in on my DVD's and whatever I have out in the living room...I THINK I got all of my pictures down now...this house is looking more and more bare...

Things I am sad about leaving behind and possibly never seeing again:

my desk...which makes me sad, but...it won't fit in my car, and it's BIG...isn't it lovely?

My roommate is very interested in it, but would any of you like to have it that are locals or even not so locals but would be willing to come and get it? Here is the link to it on IKEA:


It's the birch white one. Anyways, I paid $170 for this sucker. Gimme an offer and I MAY accept it.

And then there is the chair:

...that I REALLY don't want to get rid of...I like it a lot...but it won't fit in Elizabeth's car...and chances of rain on the way to Alabama is like basically 100%, so tying it to the top of my car isn't a choice. So any babysitters out there? :) Just for a year, I will definitely being using a U-Haul on my next move, wherever I go to after I finish the masters degree. I am not totally 'moving in' to Alabama, since I will only be there for a year, so I don't want to take EVERYTHING with me.

Oh, it's black wood by the way, and I have a red cushion, and kids love it...probably love it too much...which is one reason why I love it so much, because I am basically a kid at heart...which also explains why I usually migrate towards the kiddos at family things... :)

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Another Question for Ya'll

What do you think:

Long hair (well, longer hair)




...or short hair:

Granted the first picture is a professional picture (thank you Michael!) and my hair was SMOKIN' that day (thank you Janel!) and the other two the hair isn't exactly stellar...especially with the sunglasses pulling it back in the second short hair picture...and not professional...

...I am lacking in pictures of myself, I mostly have pictures of other people...

Anyways, what do you think? I have just been pining for long hair again, and the forces that be say keep it short because it looks so good short...but I want long hair...

So, yeah, thoughts? Most of you have seen me with both when the hair was working and not working...so just wondering what the masses think...

Boring today...

Nothing about me to post today...ALL of you should check out Emily's (Mary's) blog to check out her new ride and her engagement pictures...I have one heck of a beautiful sister...

:)

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K, one thing semi interesting to me...I was sad to hear that James Levine (he's a symphony orchestra conductor) is having another medical setback (he is having a kidney removed because of a cyst)...that means he won't be doing anything at Tanglewood for the rest of the summer...

Monday, July 7, 2008

My Handsome Family...


A comment on my last blog entry has led me to create this blog entry. Quite a while ago, I think it was my Freshman year of college at ASU, a friend of mine noted how good looking one of my male cousins was. I explained to this person that ALL of my male cousins were very good looking. After thinking for a minute, and thinking I was a genius for thinking this up, I said something to the effect of "in fact, I think I am related to all the good and good-looking males in this Church that are taller than me."

I have said that many times since. And I still stand by it. I mean, look at them! The picture above is from Scott and Penny's wedding reception. Every male in that picture is one of my cousins...and they are all VERY good looking guys! And tall...and smart...and good...and funny...and fun...

Sorry girls, they are all taken but one...he just got home from his mission...

Ha, and it's amazing, I talk with a guy for a bit and find out he's related somehow. One of the angels is a distant cousin (we just discovered this a week ago) on my Dad's side (not THE angel...hmmm...I should email him by the way...although I will probably figure out at some point that he's also a cousin...). A guy some people were talking to me about out in Alabama when I had left for the summer...yeah, I come back and we figure out he's my Dad's FIRST COUSIN...my grandpa is his uncle. I have SO much Mormon pioneer blood running through me on all sides of my family, I tell ya.

I LOVE my heritage, am very proud and happy to be a descendant of such wonderful men and women...I love studying them out, reading my ancestors journals, reading stories about them, looking at pictures, etc. And I think it is wonderful that they have SO many descendants...it just makes it slightly tricky for me when it comes to men...

I know, I know, there is hope...somewhere out there a non-cousin Prince Charming exists...here is proof:

(that would be my sister and future bro-in-law)

I just think it's funny that I have to run through my genealogy...just to make sure...

:)

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Family Historian...

I have been dubbed the family historian...I forget who called me that, but I like the title! :) I won't be here for a year at least though...well, I will be here for New Year's, of course, but I will be in Alabama the rest of the time. I get to go to Atlanta when Scott and Penny have son #2 though, excited for that!!


NEways, here's proof I was at Nick and Bethany's ward for the big occassion. These are the adoring cousins crowding around the cute baby with the cute outfit...


The family...Isn't that the coolest baby carrier...fyi, when I have kids, I want THAT for my baby shower...Nick was fixing his hair in this picture...


You can kinda see his novel hair in this picture of him and his Uncle Tom...this kid has the coolest and CUTEST hair...it just sticks straight up!

I got there just as Nick started the blessing, so I sneaked in the door and stood there while the blessing occurred. Evidently Mom (Bethany), Grand-ma-ma (Bethany's Mom) and baby arrived just before the blessing happened, so it was a hand-off with the baby...and he evidently was hungry while the blessing happened cause he was sure crying! :) It was a very sweet blessing, they are just so happy to have him.

Lots of family there...good times...


Here is the birthday boy with his baby boy. Steven is 25 today, happy birthday! I went over with him and Mindy to Aunt Marilyn's (they were all at the baby blessing as well) and had pork chops, corn on the cob, salad and this amazing potato/onion thing that probably was made with lots of butter because it tasted SOOOOOOO good!!! I loved it. Oh, and chocolate cake. :)


Gotcha! FINALLY got a picture of Tyler. Two pictures actually, but this one is by far the best. Isn't he handsome? Seriously good lookin' kid. Every time I have tried to get a picture of him something hasn't worked...usually it involves him running off...future incredibly amazing soccer player on our hands...he is so big! He is going to be SO tall...

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Amazingly enough, I really have nothing else to write about. Good Sabbath, everyone...

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Woot...and recap of the 4th...and some other stuff...

K, so my Mom once asked what the definition of "woot" was, and I told her that it means something along the lines of "hurray!, whoo-hoo!", etc. Being the nerd that I am, I finally looked up the definition of "woot". According to Urban Dictionary, the word 'woot' comes both from the game Dungeons and Dragons, and was a shorthand for "Wow, loot!" AND from the game Everquest as an acronym for "We owned the other team".

It is also used in online forums as an acronym for "waste of our time" and "way out of topic"...but that's not used very common.

It can also be used to show agreement...

Anyways, basically, my definition was right on track. :)

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No pictures of fireworks, I gave up on getting a good shot of those long ago...I would need a stand to put my camera on to get a good shot to keep the camera still...

But I did get a REALLY cute video of Nathan:




(sorry about the fact that the video is so dark, we were indoors and it was still pretty light outside so we didn't turn on the indoor lights...and sorry about the background voices, they are kinda loud...you can hear little David chiming in on the "mad, happy" at the end...)

And a picture of the newest cousin-once-removed:


I am thinking it VERY likely that I will have more pictures of him tomorrow...he is getting blessed tomorrow at Church...but just look at that HAIR!!! It is SOOO cute, it just sticks straight up, like this little mohawk. I was very pleased with this picture, it turned out really well I think...


...this is where you will usually find Nathan...somewhere near Daddy. He is definitely a Daddy's boy...at least from what I have observed.


This is a rare sight, where you will see Nathan somewhere else. He was actually having a lot of fun on Tommy's back.

Um...Alice...I think you need to have a talk with Monique...maybe...

...actually, it's a candy stick that is made to look like a cigarette. My sister and I weren't allowed to have any when we were little...

(but we snuck some anyways when we were at Aunt Nancy's house...it's good candy!)

Yeah, so my Fourth was good. Hung out at the house until about 3:00pm and then headed down to Casa Grande, ate hamburgers, marinated cucumbers (:/ still not a fan of those, cucumbers all by themselves are just SOOOO good!!!), chips, watermelon, strawberries...the normal 4th of July foods...then we went swimming (still no sunburn, woot) and have discovered that I have absolutely no arm strength as I tried to hold up, throw, tackle, tickle and trick all the children who were also in the pool with me. I need to work on that I think...

Went to the fireworks (drove close by, backed in, pulled out the chairs and opened the back of the cars and watched from a ways away). Drove back to town at 9:40...in time to see all the fireworks displays AND the lightning going off all over the valley...it was really kinda cool! No drunk drivers on the way home (yay!).

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I went outside this morning at like 9:30am to weed.

BAD IDEA...

It was SOOO hot, I was sweating like nothing else...

...still no sunburn...

but, yeah, I had to stop after 45 minutes...and then again later after 15. I was beat. That sun/heat is just killer. I really have a lot more respect for peoples who have to work out in the sun. Construction crews should work at night in my opinion...at least they should here...

The new roomie moved in. She's sweet, only here through the middle of August for an internship, friend of Amber's. I introduced her to frozen custard tonight...she LOVED it. Don't worry Amber, the Pazookie is coming...I have already told her about it...we would've done that instead, but we didn't get out until after Oregano's closed.

(side note, she thought I was 22...:D...I usually get MUCH older...perhaps the tables are turning...)

Tried to get a new fan put up, but that plan failed...have to put in a new box because the one that is up there is stripped, and after talking with my cousin it sounds like we are going to have to put one up in a new place because it is on a track which isn't meant to hold a fan....blah....

Friday, July 4, 2008

Happy 4th! and Yesterday

First of all, happy 4th of July. Please take a moment to revel in what freedoms and rights we can enjoy. The right to be happy, the right to be sad, the right to make money, the right to do nothing, the right to compete, the right to stand by and watch...( :) not a comprehensive list, by the way...)

I don't tend to talk a lot about politics at ALL because I hate the debates that occur because of it, I hate debating, I am not good at it...I am not very knowledgeable in many things when it comes to political issues...so I am not a good person to debate with when it comes to these kinds of things anyways...

I do know a few things however. I know that we shouldn't vote blindly for people of one political party or another without knowing something about the person we are voting for. I hope that we each take a little bit of time to research the people that we will be voting for and choose those who we think are good, those who are honest, and those who will assist us in protecting our rights, our families, our religions, our properties, and all else that we hold near and dear.

Also, for those of you who are American, it wouldn't hurt to re-read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution...just to see what we really are celebrating on this Independence Day.

Here is the last paragraph of the Declaration:

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

I can't help it, but my heart leaps every time I read this document. Call me a sentimental fool, or call me whatever, but I greatly admire these men who put their names on this declaration...they were not perfect men by any means, but they put their foot forward onto unknown territory to establish a country where the people were not abused to the lengths they previously had been by Great Britain. I really believe God had His hand in developing this country. I mean, how in the WORLD did we win that Revolutionary War???

Side note: I was lucky enough to see the original of Washington crossing the Delaware:

... at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It is huge, by the way...I just think it a magnificent tribute to those who fought in the war and to George Washington himself.

And that is what I have to say about that.

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My room is clean. No really, it is! Come over, I will prove it to you. I just have to remake the bed.

How is this possible, you ask??? An angel came over yesterday to assist me in packing up my house, and if any of you have ever seen my room, just imagine it worse than that when she came over...and YES I had already packed 3 boxes just of my books in my room AND did all of my laundry. Well, she decided that I needed help getting my room packed and organized more than I needed help with the rest of the house...

So we worked on my room for...well, a long while. Her kids helped a LOT...shredding paper, grabbing this, getting that...they were so good...

And then we went swimming at one of the coolest pools around at Hamilton High School...it has two decent water slides, a lazy river, a whirlpool, swimming lanes, a water playground with a shorter water slide and all kinds of water spraying out of it, diving boards, and lifeguards everywhere! We had SOOO much fun. And NO sunburn! Woot!

And to end the day, we had pizza (my treat), wings and poppers...a good day, I have to say. My roommate is still in shock with my room. She used to look into it to make herself feel better about hers... :)

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

HELP!!!

I NEED to get out of this house! I swear I have been in this house ever since noon...YESTERDAY!!! July 1st!!!

I was productive...every article of clothing that I own is clean, folded, ironed, hanging to dry, or put away. I packed lots more than I did the day before. Cleaned out my bathroom ALMOST completely, just have to do the shower and it's done. My room is starting to look like I am packing it up...you have to understand, my room is both room and office, so it is a bit crowded in there...but most of my college books and notebooks have been packed and labeled along with lots and lots of music. I own a lot of freaking music!!

So yeah, someone PLEASE call me and talk me into coming to see them tomorrow...or you come and take me away from this place for a few hours. I need an excuse to not stick around here and pack and clean the whole day...:D

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Wall-E...and First Presidency Message...and I Hate Packing...


Went to see the matinée showing of Wall-E yesterday. Loved it. Absolutely loved it. It said a LOT of good things too. Things that I could learn from, for sure, I have so much junk. I try to recycle as much as possible, but I can always do better.

And I probably should get into better shape.

I have to admit, after watching the movie yesterday morning I came home and to entertain myself while putting boxes together, folding laundry, dealing with neighbors...I watched Hello Dolly. :) You will (hopefully) understand why if you watch the film.

So, anyways, go see Wall-E, it's worth it. And I loved the short before it, so DON'T show up late cause you will miss it.

Proud moment: I taught my bestfriends daughter to say Wall-E correctly. :D

None of the trailers really grabbed me. Madagascar MIGHT be good. There is a new cartoon about a mouse with big ears (can we say Dumbo?) that might be really cute, but it doesn't come out for quite a while...

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First off, here is the link to the First Presidency message this month: LINKAGE

K, so I thought I would do a little of my part to get the conversation going on the Gospel using things like blogs, webpages, etc. like Elder Ballard counseled...so I thought I would do something regular, so here I am commenting on the First Presidency message for the month.

The title of it is "Heeding the Voice of the Prophets". So yes, we believe that we are led by prophets, seers and revelators...the leading authorities of the Church are the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency, which we sustain as prophets, seers and revelators. "God speaks to us through them".

I think it was two years ago President Hinckley in his First Presidency message asked the membership of the Church to read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover before the coming of the New Year. What a neat experience that was, it had been a few years since the last time I had actually done that and it rekindled my testimony of Jesus Christ and of that book of scripture. I really do believe that book to be true.

Today we are asked to have gardens, be self sufficient, get out and as much as we are able to stay out of debt, have savings and food/water storage, go to the temple regularly, attend our meetings, be good citizens, neighbors, friends, brothers, sisters, etc along with many other things...and these are all good things to do anyways...

We believe that the words coming from the prophets are the words of God. Deut. 18:18 says "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." In modern day scripture, we find in Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 it says "whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." The servants in that scripture being the prophets.

We also believe that we personally can talk and receive answers to prayers from our Heavenly Father directly. Heavenly Father does expect us to search out the scriptures and the words of the living prophets as much as we are able to for answers. We can depend on God to give us answers to our prayers if we are unable to find the answer for ourselves.

And that is what I have to say about that! :)

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I put together a gazillion boxes today to start packing up this house...

...guess how many I have actually packed?

ONE!!! Oh goodness, I hate packing, and I have NO self-motivation...

I go into the laziest state of mind you can even imagine. I am amazed I packed one! Hopefully by the time I go to bed tonight that number will change.

I am putting my books (which is the bulk of what I really own in this house) into the smaller boxes, so I am packing those first. I am putting them into two piles: the I should take to Alabama pile and the I don't need these books in Alabama pile...I am trying to take as little as possible. Mostly music books, but only the ones I think I will need...I of course will take some of my Church books...

I am trying to make sure that everything that I am taking with me to Alabama fits into my car...but I think I may be fighting a losing battle...we shall see.