returns the current dimensions of the object

def get_currentDim(self):
        '''
        returns the current dimensions of the object
        '''
        selfDim = self._dimensions.copy()
        if not isinstance(selfDim,dimStr):
            if selfDim.has_key('_ndims') : nself = selfDim.pop('_ndims')
            else : 
                self.warning(1, 'self._dimensions does not have the _ndims key')
                nself = len(selfDim)
        else : nself = selfDim['_ndims']
        curDim = [[key for key in selfDim.keys()],[selfDim[key] for key in selfDim.keys()]]
        return curDim, nself