This just in...

A new Rasmussen poll says that 63% of America wants to repeal Obamacare.

If the government would actually comprehend the extent of disdain for this bill, perhaps they may have a shot at maintaining Congressional seats in the midterm elections. For a Democrat, this poll is bad news, but to a Conservative Republican like me, this poll is quite pleasing.

3rd Amendment

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

This Amendment is often overlooked, but it is extremely vital to our freedom. The Founding Fathers included the 3rd Amendment in the Bill of Rights to prevent the new government from quatering soldiers in private homes during times of peace. Before the 13 original colonies declared their independence against England, the British Parliament passed the Quartering Act, which allowed the government to send soldiers into people's home without their consent.

Currently, the government cannot station soldiers in our homes without our permission. In times of war, the government can make a law to house soldiers in our homes, but in times of peace, they must ask our permission.

2nd Amendment

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

This means we can have guns, people! I myself will probably never go out and buy a gun, but I believe that we, as citizens, have the right to own a weapon. The saying "Guns don't kill people; people kill people" describes my personal sentiments on the 2nd Amendment.

Believe me, I am certainly not condoning the thought that people should be able to purchase a weapon without any regulation. I say keep the regulation to a minimum. I am all for safety precautions on guns, i.e. safety locks. I would hope that people who own firearms of any kind would take precaution when storing the weapons in their homes. A gun should be unloaded with the safety in place. I believe a person should not be able to purchase a gun if he or she had any past criminal records or disregard for the law.

Our right to "keep and bear arms" is a vital protection against our every-growing government. In District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court ruled that "The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home." This landmark case solidified the 2nd Amendment as a protection against potential threats, whether they be criminals or the government.

If the government were to regulate and monitor when a person purchases a gun or other firearm, government officials would know who personally owns a gun. If the government were to log each time a person bought a gun, they could potentially use the list as an assistance to confiscate a person's weapon. If this were an ideal world, we would not need guns to protect ourselves, but sadly, we live in a world that is powered by corruption and hate. Bottom line: criminals and terrorists will find a way to own a weapon of some sort, so the government should allow us to possess our weapons with limited regulations.

1st Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Isn't this just amazing, folks? For us cool kids who watch CSPAN, this just inspires a whole bunch of 18th Century Intrigue.

In short, we Americans have a plethora of freedoms, including, but not limited to:
1. Freedom of Religion
2. Freedom of Speech
3. Freedom of the Press
4. Freedom to Assemble
5. Freedom to Petition

I SHALL work on memorizing this over the weekend...because I'm gonna have a lame weekend hahha jk

So long Arlen Spector

Au revoir, monsieur!!! Operation Oust the Incumbents has continued.

Mr. President, I believe this great country is sending you a message, so it may be in your best interest to lend an ear. Let's not forget that we the people ultimately decide election results, and we can and will articulate our concerns with your administration. Arlen Spector the Defector will no longer be able to play political chameleon, switching parties simply for reelection concerns and supporting your massive overhauls for personal gains. It ends now. Democrats as well as Republicans did not approve of Spector’s leadership, as he is the epitome of the reason we need term limits for members of Congress.

Summer list of things to do...

1. Work full-time at the City of Coppell Camp Do-It-All


2. Go to the best event of the year: The Annual Chester Family Reunion


3. Keep in constant contact with my Fort Worth Besties. Don't you test these besties.


4. Spend time with my amazing Coppell friends. Gosh how I've missed them=]


5. Memorize all 27 Amendments to our precious United States Constitution. Yes, I'm that much of a PoliSci nerd. Don't judge me haha. Someday, I strive to be like the man below...Antonin Scalia, the most legit Justice ever!


6. Keep up with the news! As much as I love to watch Fox News and read Newsmax, I need to continue reading left-wing sources like Time and The Dallas Morning News. I need more material for my next class with HGobes. Let's not forget the previous successes I've enjoyed on Current Events Days. Rahm Emanuel's Dead Fish Scandal will never die! Much like Turtle Fence...


7. Continue exercising and enjoying time outside. Walking Dickens outside + mall-walking at Grapevine Mills=Perfect summer day of exercise.


8. Continue to earn Southern Points! It is not a lost cause, my friends. Although Mere-Bear and Becca are rackin' them up, I will not be slackin' after Family Reunion Time.


9. Spend time with my amazing parents. This summer is going to be rough without Callie. Although it is extremely difficult to be at home full-time and finally face reality, I know that with God's help, we will persevere.


10. Last, but certainly not least. Most important, in fact. This summer, I hope to continue to grow in my faith. I need to discipline myself to pray without ceasing and to have enough quiet time daily. I just need to meditate on Philippians 4:13-I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.

An Ode to the Turtle Fence

In life there will always be a turtle fence
Confining people to different sides of the highway
Some turtles will be in the median, their priorities focused on survival
While some will be fenced in, unable to access the real world

They built it three feet high
For those turtles that are climbing turtles
So they wouldn't climb over the turtle fence

Highway enhancement,
What's highway enhancement?

The fence is turtle proof,
there is not escape

The you shall
meant
You shall build a turtle fence

Tomorrow

I cannot contain my excitement! Tomorrow, I am going to reunite with my best friends, Meredith and Becca (known to some as Snowbunny and Sasha Fierce, respectively). We have been apart for a week, and I swear it feels more like a month. I need to see them! My mom doesn't really respond to my attempts at making jokes...

Enchilada Wednesday

As much as I complain about my long, Greek surname, I wouldn't change it for anything. Sentementes sounds like sentimental, so it perfectly describes my outlook on life. I am extremely nostalgic about so many things. I enjoy reminiscing about what events occurred this time last year, two years ago, etc. I have a fairly good memory, and I intend to put it in good use. Some may ask, "Why waste your time dwelling on the past?", but I like to think of my revisiting past experiences as a time to relive those times in my life.

Some of my fondest memories occurred while eating. I cherish each year that I am able to attend my Family Reunion in Tallahassee, Florida. My southern relatives and I gather round large platters of soul food, and we discuss everything from religion to donuts (inside joke). While my Family Reunion only happens once a year, my family and I eat at El Fenix Tex-Mex Restaurant at least once a month. My grandparents have been going to El Fenix since they moved to Dallas in the 1950s. The Martinez Family opened El Fenix in 1918, so it's been around for a while.

I remember going to El Fenix as a child, even before I fell in love with Tex-Mex. I always enjoyed their amazing tortilla chips, though. I remember waiting for about an hour to order our food, so we could munch on chips and discuss recent goings-on. The phenomenon known to some of my family members as "Chippin' and Dippin'". I am so glad that I finally discovered just how amazing Mexican food is. I have to have it at least once a week, and I'm pretty confident that I could eat it everyday.

Every Wednesday since I can remember, El Fenix sells their classic Enchilada Dinner for the low, low price of $4.99. An added bonus to the amazing price, El Fenix receives so much business on Wednesdays which causes the food to always be fresh and hot. My mom and I are going to Enchilada Wednesday tonight, and I am sure looking forward to a night of laughs and nostalgia. I graduated on Wednesday June 3, 2009, so guess where we all ate after the ceremony? Yep, El Fenix. I cannot believe it's been almost a year since I left the halls of Coppell High School. 52 Enchilada Wednesdays later, I am back for the summer and ready to reminisce about my amazing college experience.

Thoughts on Elena Kagan

Currently, I am not quite sure what to make of Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court. In The Dallas Morning News today, there was an article about Kagan's stance on various political issues, ranging from abortion to the death penalty. Kagan believes that the existing precedence concerning abortion, Roe v. Wade, should be protected. She does, however, support a ban on late-term abortions. Kagan believes that the 2nd Amendment protects an individual's right to keep and bear arms. While judicial activists often "legislate from the bench", Kagan declares that a Justice should separate his or her personal beliefs from his or her interpretation of the Constitution. I have not yet learned exactly how Kagan interprets the Constitution. I am curious to find out how she perceives the document, whether she literally or loosely reads the words.

I have not yet read anything concerning Kagan's fiscal beliefs, but I do know that socially conservative groups have targeted Kagan and her position on the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy in the military. The Supreme Court unanimously agreed that Kagan's decision to ban military recruiters from the Harvard campus was unconstitutional. Because she herself disagrees with the DADT policy, Kagan did not allow military recruiters to visit Harvard. Conservative student groups protested this decision. Kagan's view on this issue concerns me, as she allowed her personal opinions to influence her position as a decision-maker. I am skeptical about Kagan's opposition to judicial activism. We can only hope that her confirmation does not dramatically shift the Court to the left. I am not extremely worried about her effect on the Court because John Paul Stevens became more liberal with each year he spent as a Justice.

I am pretty confident that Republicans in the Senate will not do anything excessive to block Kagan's confirmation. We shall soon find out...

These are a few of my favorite things...

Yes, I love "The Sound of Music"; it is one of my all-time favorites. I decided that I am going to compose my own list of my favorite things, which will not begin with "raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens". I am a "dog person", so the kitten part would cause me to be a Joe Wilson. So here it goes:

-I love the Lord! He is my favorite thing! I love knowing that He is in control. He has been my rock these past two years, and I love Him so much.

-I love my family and friends. The Lord has blessed me with two loving parents, and an array of amazing friends. They make me laugh, comfort me when I cry, and listen to me rant endlessly about everything, which brings me to my next favorite thing...

-I love ranting endlessly! I just love talking about things, until they get old. I've been watching "Reba" for eight years, and to this day, I still talk about it. I love talking about politics, books, movies, Food Network, food, etc. I have found, however, that my favorite rants usually concern nothing at all. Or nothing of substance. I'll have you know that my friend and I quoted lines from the Bon Qui Qui video for the first few months of our freshman year at TCU.

-Speaking of YouTube videos, my latest obsession is Turtle Fence! Watch it, and it will change your life.

-I love TCU! I has been a constant source of happiness for me this year! I loved the atmosphere, my friends, and Travis Avenue Baptist Church near campus. I have enjoyed most of my classes, especially Political Science with HGobes and French! J'adore le francais parce qu'il est tres beau!

-I love music! I enjoy most genres with the exception of rock, punk rock, screamo or any other whiny boy-band tunes. Oh, oh, and TAYLOR SWIFT!!! I mean, what's up with people thinking that she is country? So the girl has a guitar, so do I. Does that make me worthy of an ACM or CMA award...I should think not. I'm sorry, but I don't care if you want someone to think of you every time a Tim McGraw song comes on. He's still alive, and he's perfectly able to write his own songs to generate some cash flow. Who writes a song about a fellow colleague who is STILL ALIVE! End of rant.

-I love my Snuggie. It is so amazing. It has properly warmed my arms this winter, and I enjoy acting like Moses parting the Red Sea, while wearing my soft, red Snuggie.

-Not to sound exclusive, but I absolutely adore inside jokes. I love sharing a weird moment with friends or family. Here are a few: You keep goin', Nancy!, the lady at SubConnections, Congress is one hot mess, Tangerine.

-I love doing Bible studies with Mildred, my mentor at TABC. She is amazing, and she inspires me in all parts of my life. Mildred is the epitome of a Godly woman and an eternal optimist.

-I love Trace Adkins, George Strait, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, and all them other country boys. They melt my butter, as Paula Deen would say.

-I love watching Food Network. I discussed my obsession with the channel recently in my French oral interview. I believe watching someone else cook is more exciting than doing it yourself. As much as I would love to sound like Paula, it doesn't come natural. I have to keep immersing myself in her show, so one day I can achieve her Southern drawl.

-I love looking at Tim Riggins on "Friday Night Lights". Although his character is morally ambiguous, his looks, my friends, are most certainly NOT!

-I love making fun of Matt Saracen on "Friday Night Lights". He's a sweetheart, but the kid needs to see a speech therapist. Love ya, Snowbunny!

-I love being a Native Texan. I am so proud of my Southern roots, and I will talk about them to anyone who gives me an ear.

-I love constantly polling people about their soft-drink preferences. Dr. Pepper for the win.

-I love being a Conservative Republican. Go GOP! I have to emphasize the conservative part because some elephants have recently transformed into RINOs ahemmmmm Kay Bailey Hutchison.

-I love giving code-names to people. HGobes, JRidds, Mama Westie, Globug, Snowbunny, etc.

-I love free things. Like free radio on Pandora, free coupons for store openings, buy one-get one free deals, free Bagels at Einsteins, etc.

Well I SHALL finish this post later! I'm fixin' to go watch some of the moving picture box. Goodnight and God Bless!

Random...

I could really go for a piece of coconut pie from the Koffee Kup right about now.



Three inches of meringue-y goodness and the best coconut filling!

Thoughts about various things...

First off, I would like to wish my mother Cindy Sentementes a Happy Mother's Day! My mom is my hero, and I admire her more than any other person on this earth. Yes, I do constantly talk about Reba, Sarah Palin, etc., but my mom is in a whole different league. This year has been very difficult for my family, but for my mother especially. My younger sister, Callie, passed away on January 27, after fighting an extremely challenging battle with cancer for two years. I know this holiday has been hard for my mom this year, as Callie is no longer with us. I prayed this morning, asking the Lord for strength to support my mom on this day and be extremely sensitive to her feelings. So far, I think she has enjoyed the day. We are going to go to Marble Slab later which will be fun.

Moving onto politics, Mission Oust-Incumbents has commenced. Yesterday, 3-term incumbent, Republican Senator, Bob Bennett, failed to advance to the Utah Republican Primary. According to Newsmax , "Bennett survived a first round of voting Saturday among roughly 3,500 delegates but was eliminated when he finished a distant third in the second round. He garnered just under 27 percent of the vote while businessman Tim Bridgewater had 37 percent and attorney Mike Lee got 36 percent." Because Utah is an ultra-conservative state, residents are not pleased at Bennett's failure to carry out a conservative agenda. Bennett supported the bailout in 2008, and he has embraced a variety of programs that are unpopular among fiscal conservatives. I am very pleased with Bennett's failure to advance in the primary, and I am hoping that other incumbents do not receive the Republican nomination in the 2010 midterm election. I myself am a staunch fiscal and social conservative, eager to see the GOP pick up seats. I would absolutely LOVE to see new faces win Republican seats and end terms for incumbents. Some incumbents have consistently voted conservative on the issues, but the majority of incumbents are responsible for our party's failure to oppose the radical agenda occurring in the White House. I am sick and tired of the "politics as usual" mentality, and I would love to see real change in 2010. If the GOP can gain control of either the House or the Senate, I will be happy. Wouldn't it be nice to address our economic problems without dramatically increasing our deficit? If the GOP can substantially gain seats in 2010, perhaps we can tackle this recession by giving the people control of the money instead of granting more power to the federal government. Anyway, enough of my ranting...for now.

Concerning music, I have come to really enjoy listening to alternative country/rock stuff. I really like Wilco. Their song "I'll Fight for You" is at the top of my list of new favorites. Thanks to Meredith, I also like that Lady Gaga song "Alejandro". During finals week, I listened to a lot of bluegrass music to keep me energized and motivated. The banjo/fiddle mix really does it for me.

That's all for today, folks=]

Happy Mothers Day, Mommy!


The Del McCoury Band, my favorite bluegrass artists!


Vote Conservative first, Republican second

So now I'm a blogger...

Bonjour mes amis!
I thought that I would start a blog this summer to keep everyone up to date with my goings-on and to give me something productive to do. My freshman year of college came to a close yesterday. I had to say goodbye to my two best friends, my amazing roommate and nine months of unforgettable memories. I did not hold back my tears last night as I unpacked a year's worth of stuff and officially moved back into my room in Coppell. I can't get over how much I miss Fort Worth. I crossed a street today when walking, and I couldn't help but think of crossing University everyday to go to class. It reminds me of the time my best friend, Meredith, told me that the bird sound that the walk sign played was for blind people. She explained that the sound helped them know when to cross. I originally didn't believe her, but my other best friend, Becca, informed me that once again, I was mistaken. Story of my life. But I digress...I can't wait to go back to the Fort for the wedding next week! Mere-Bear, Becca and I are going to live it up at our friend Michelle's house!
Hope y'all have a great night!
Becca and I doing the most legit pose ever, the HGobes

Room 106 Love

Mere-Bear and I acting crazy as always!