4Walls and AView

Changes in body, exercise and weight …top comments

by Dominique on May 16, 2012 - 1 comment

This week I met with my personal trainer who is now taking me to Phase II if you will of my exercise routine and getting my body as healthy as possible. With some recent tweaking of my diet by my nutrionalist, I am now only 21 pounds away from having lost a total of 100 pounds! Just reading that is startling. With my exercise I am now cutting back on my cardio and not doing more than an hour a …

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Hope: the Velcro to a better tomorrowtop comments

by Dominique on May 14, 2012 - 6 comments

In the distance, the loud clanging of the city garbage trucks bellow against the stillness of the night. Amber and soft white lights flicker against the pitch black sky. Delved deep in the blanket of darkness, red lights flicker on and off to a rhythm no one can hear. Smash is cuddled up with his head on my leg as I sit here in the early morning hours and soak in the quietness and the variety of music that sings …

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ME and Curveballstop comments

by Dominique on April 30, 2012 - 2 comments

I had to laugh today because even though I am doing extremely well, I still have those darn ME moments. You know the ones. You think you understand and sign on the dotted line, only to find out, you totally heard wrong? Or two people are talking and you don’t hear either one. Yup. Still happening. Much milder and less often, but still happening. So that brings me to my ME faux pax of the month. Remember, I signed up …

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My FIRST in TWENTY years~top comments

by Dominique on April 25, 2012 - 10 comments

This won’t be an overly long post today, but I am so excited I cannot contain myself. And of course I want to share the news with my readers. Never in a million years did I think I would ever say this on my blog and I most certainly did not think I would during, or after the chemical poisoning. But say it I am. Are you ready? I have just entered the Tulsa Mayfest 5K run for May 26th. …

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Determination isn’t always enough 2 reach My Dreams

by Dominique on April 24, 2012 - 8 comments

I have several things I want to talk about this week but I thought I would share about where I am with my exercising and leave the rest to future posts for this week. First, my apolgies for not posting anything last week (thanks Patricia for checking up on me). I actually was brain dead as far as writing ideas for my posts. I know weird right? lol I have made some new changes in my life and it basically …

April 2012 ME Story: Laura Lipscombe

by Dominique on April 12, 2012 - 0 comments

I almost missed this month’s story. I had so much going on I didn’t realize today is the 12th of the month and a new Becoming VISIBLE 4ME story is up. That would have been a real shame, because this month’s story, by Laura Lipscombe, is really impacting. Many of the feelings and situations she shares from her own personal struggle with Myaglic Encephalomyelitis (ME) are easily relatable to anyone with this illness. But more than that, I found that …

My AMAZING Grass Story – Part 6 of 6: Dominique’s Amazing Smoothies

by Dominique on April 11, 2012 - 5 comments

If you haven’t read the first five parts of my story, you can catch up by going to, the INCIDENT , Repercussive CONSEQUENCES , Slippery SLOPE , ONE year later and Benefits and Bonuses. I now find myself at the end of this six part series and I am a little sad. lol This journey I have been on this past year has been an amazing one, to say the least. But it is one that I would re-do in …

My AMAZING grass Story – Part 5 of 6: Benefits & Bonuses

by Dominique on April 10, 2012 - 3 comments

If you haven’t read the first four parts of my story, you can catch up by going to, the INCIDENT , Repercussive CONSEQUENCES and Slippery SLOPE and ONE year later. There is this quote by Martha Graham that I love. The body never lies. The body NEVER lies. I have found in my life that my body always lets me know when it is struggling. I have also found, that my job is simply to find a way to give …

“Smash-ing” Around Town

by Dominique on April 9, 2012 - 6 comments

I have decided that trying to write every day for 30 days is just too much so I am going to adjust my goal (even though it is not the challenge) to Monday – Friday for the month of April. For as far back as I can remember with my ME, I always get to the weekend and need to rest up for the coming week. At least, more often then not. Basically, I have to pre-plan any activities and …

My AMAZING Grass Story – Part 4 of 6: ONE year later

by Dominique on April 6, 2012 - 4 comments

If you haven’t read the first three parts of my story, you can catch up by going to, the INCIDENT , Repercussive CONSEQUENCES and Slippery SLOPE. There is something about meeting your immortality face to face. Often our time on earth is not something we give much thought too. However, when your body ceases to function properly, and eating and digesting food, talking, walking, and all the other basic normal life functions become almost impossible, you really have no other …

My AMAZING Grass Story – Part 3 of 6: Slippery SLOPE

by Dominique on April 5, 2012 - 4 comments

If you haven’t read the first two parts of my story, you can catch up by going to, the INCIDENT and Repercussive CONSEQUENCES. That proverbial wall. Unbeknownst to me, it was coming at me like a freight train and it would knock me for a loop like no other experience in my life prior to this poisoning. I never saw it coming even though my beloved pug, Dekker, had started sliding down the slippery slope in his own health. By …

My AMAZING Grass Story – Part 2 of 6: Repercussive CONSEQUENCES

by Dominique on April 4, 2012 - 2 comments

If you haven’t read the first part of my story, you can catch up by going to, the INCIDENT. I often think back to that day when all hell broke loose in my apartment in 2010 and often find myself thinking that sometimes I’m thankful that I cannot see into the future. If I had know what was coming down the road, health wise, I wonder if I would have had the same determination and tenacity to fight that I …

My AMAZING Grass Story – Part 1 of 6: the INCIDENT

by Dominique on April 3, 2012 - 10 comments

I realized from a comment left on my blog recently that not all my readers know what happened to me in 2010. In addition, those who do are asking me more and more about the product that I’m taking which I credit with my amazing recovery. Lastly, the company, Amazing Grass, has asked me to write my story for them as well. So, today I thought I would write the whole story, if you will. Before I do, however, I …

Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge

by Dominique on April 1, 2012 - 4 comments

As you are probably aware I have not been posting as much as I have in the past. To be honest, I have been kinda stuck in my writing. In addition, it is summer time and I find it very difficult not to get distracted with other things and write. So I am re-arranging my writing schedule to the early hours with a few days in the afternoon at local cafes. On top of that I decided to join WEGO …

The Disconnect between Rhetoric and Reality in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)

by Dominique on March 21, 2012 - 11 comments

I am posting my upcoming column for Life Skills Magazine here today as a tribute, and in honor, to Emily Rose Collinridge, who passed away from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) this past week. ___________________________________ In my column this month, I wanted to use my words to pay homage and honor to a fellow Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) fighter who succumbed to the illness earlier this month. Every time I receive news of yet another patient dying as a result of this horrendous …

The Most Important Thing You Can Do Is Smile

by Dominique on March 16, 2012 - 10 comments

I am doing something I have never done on 4Walls and AView since I started it two years ago. Today, a friend of mine will be guest posting here on 4Walls and AView. You might be familiar with Ted already because I reviewed his book, The Eagle has Crashed, on my blog a little while ago. What you don’t know is that his mother lived, for a period, with illness and she did so with determination and courage. Her story …

Learning How to Cook w/Limited Energy

by Dominique on March 14, 2012 - 8 comments

My friend and fellow blogger, Tamara, asked me a question about diet, cooking, and what not, which has really had me thinking ever since. You can see my first response to her question in my post, How I Started ME Weight Loss Journey. I guess I don’t give it a lot of thought because how I eat and cook has become an innate part of my personal journey of living with Fibromyalgia (FMS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) since December of …

How I Started MY Weight Loss Journey

by Dominique on March 8, 2012 - 5 comments

Every once in a while I will get a comment from one of my readers that becomes great fodder for a post. Tamara, author of, Empty Thoughts, Rewritten, left this comment recently. Lately I have been thinking a lot about diet and wondering how changing it could help me. However, I have no idea where to start – should I start cutting or adding? etc. Not to mention that I don’t often have the energy to make proper meals. I …

food INPUT Dictates (energy) OUTPUT thus MORE quality DAYS

by Dominique on March 7, 2012 - 8 comments

The past few weeks I have been working with a nutrionalist and trying to figure out how to increase my caloric intake as well as fill in the holes in my diet. I originally started out using livestrong.com diary journal but it just didn’t work in my brain. So I recently changed to myfitnesspal.com and I love it. (BTW, their mobile version is fantastic!) It is user-friendly and anything I eat that is organic is in their database. You can …

Introducing … Smash Leroux

by Dominique on February 28, 2012 - 12 comments

The past two weeks I have been having problems with dizziness, balance and sinus stuff. It didn’t dawn on me until someone told me today that Oklahoma is in early spring bloom this year as we had an extremely mild winter, that that was what was throwing my health off. I have been thinking I have been doing too much but now I realize my body is using energy on an additional issue and so a little cutting back is …

Letters 2 Myself

by Dominique on February 18, 2012 - 9 comments

Today’s post is something a little different from my normal writing here. Perhaps it’s safe to say that today’s post is more indicative to the kind of writing my heart bleeds to do. I hope you enjoy it. This may become part of a book I’m playing with called, Letters to Myself. __________________________ There is so much desire inside of me. Desire that culminates in hopes, dreams, and creative energy. It all wants to be birthed and flow out of …

Running the ME/FMS Marathon … to Win

by Dominique on February 15, 2012 - 20 comments

After living with Fibromyalgia (FMS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) since December 1992, I have tried everything and anything I can think of. My progress has been one of great highs, and also, some incredibly scary lows. In the beginning, I like so many, navigated this journey by going to doctor after doctor and doing whatever they recommend. The results for me personally, were disasterous. More often than not, the medication created severe side affects that only exaberated the illness itself. …

YOU Are BEAUTIFUL

by Dominique on February 10, 2012 - 16 comments

Recently I had several people gently chide me that I was beautiful and that I needed to embrace that. I was flummoxed, to be quite honest, because I was at a loss to see what they saw. I haven’t ever looked at myself and thought, you are beautiful, Dominique. I don’t think I’m ugly or whatnot, but I don’t affix the beautiful adjective to my personhood. Anyway, after two people made the same comment to me within 24 hours, I …

The Reward of Validation & 2 New Awards

by Dominique on February 8, 2012 - 11 comments

I would love to say that I don’t need affirmation or acknowledgement of my writing, of who I am becoming as a woman, or me as a whole person. However, I would be lying. There is something innate in the human spirit that needs to be acknowledged and validated. It is an interesting paradox in the world we live in today because women are told not to be “needy,” or God forbid, even appear needy. We are supposed to be …

Hitting Replay: My 7 Links

by Dominique on February 7, 2012 - 7 comments

I recently received an email from my friend and editor, Lillie of, A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye, letting me know that she had nominated me and 4Walls and AView for “My 7 Links” challenge. I am always honored when Lillie chooses me for any type of award or honor because I have great admiration and respect for her. By the way, if you haven’t had a chance to check out her blog, and you are a writer, please take …

DIET is KEY

by Dominique on January 26, 2012 - 14 comments

After living with ME since December 1992, I have learned over and over that when I make any plans I must also plan for the payback that will undoubtedly come. That may sound like I’m being negative because I’m planning for the crash that follows the fun but it really isn’t. It is just a fact of life, unfortunately, when one lives with this unrelenting illness. I had a wonderful time helping my sister get her new website ready and …

Boston and Bear …

by Dominique on January 24, 2012 - 7 comments

I am sitting just outisde of Boston at my sister’s house and enjoying the white sky and the white ground. Everything is white. While it is really nice to see so much fluffy, white powder everywhere, it is also nice to know that this is a temporary thing and I can enjoy it for the moment knowing that I will soon be heading home soon. I heard back from the rescue organization – Homeward Bound – and I have passed …

Book Review: The Eagle Has Crashed by Ted Lacksonen

by Dominique on January 18, 2012 - 5 comments

I recently had a friend ask me to read his new book, The Eagle Has Crashed, and I quickly said yes! Ted has been someone who has been helping me to think outside the box when it comes to the plight of America and politics in general. I respect his opinion deeply and was excited and honored to be asked to read his book. I also promised to write a review. The genre of, The Eagle Has Crashed, is probably …

From Empty to Full

by Dominique on January 17, 2012 - 13 comments

I wanted to share something I have been going through with my readers. This may in fact be more of a woman thing but I think it really is applicable to my whole readership. I have been in a bad head and emotional space these last few months. Totally understandable with Dekker’s one year anniversary (death), my father’s sudden heart-attack and quadruple bypass, the birth of my grandson, a betrayal by someone I considered a friend and the severe relapse …

Jan 2012 ME Story: Kassy

by Dominique on January 12, 2012 - 4 comments

I don’t know if you have ever woke up in the middle of the night in one of those, “Oh my gosh moments?” Well, I did last night. I was thinking about what I would say in this post before I went to bed and then woke up in the middle of the night realizing that today’s ME Story which is shared by my friend, Kassy, is our 12th story on Becoming Visible 4ME which means … We have now …

Simplicity, 3 Words, and 2012

by Dominique on January 10, 2012 - 12 comments

I was catching up on my blog reading, when I came across Tamara’s new post at Empty Thoughts, Rewritten, and it caught my attention. The reason it caught my attention is because I have been thinking about words that keep rising up within me that reflect where my heart and soul for 2012 is, especially after my two-part series called, My 12 Changes to Living Better with ME: Part 1 of 2 and My 12 Changes to Living Better with …

My 12 Changes to Living Better with ME: Part 2 of 2

by Dominique on January 5, 2012 - 8 comments

If you missed the beginning of this two part series, you can catch up with part one HERE. Today, I am going to share changes 7-12 with you. 7. Change Place: As I mentioned in part one, so often when I am in the midst of a wonderful event, spectactular moment or memorable time, I am often only their in body but not spirit and soul. This is probably one of my most challenging changes because I am so annalytical. …

My 12 Changes to Living Better with ME: Part 1 of 2

by Dominique on January 3, 2012 - 16 comments

New Years. Two simple words. Yet, these two little words bring excitement, freshness, visions, possibilities and more to my heart and soul ever time they roll around. Most of the time, almost innately, goals start popping up in my head and I feel my blood pumping as the electricity of newness surges through my body. While goals can be a good and necessary thing, when one is living with a chronic illness such as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and Fibromyalgia (FMS), …

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

by Dominique on December 31, 2011 - 15 comments

Can you believe this year is over? Tomorrow is 2012! I can’t say this year fled by because to be honest this was a very challenging one for me. I am quite happy that it is over to be honest. I’m really excited about another year of sharing with you and changing things up and maybe adding some new things. I’m even considering guest posts so if you might be interested in that feel free to contact me. I will …

If I let myself admit it, I …

by Dominique on December 28, 2011 - 12 comments

I have been thinking about what direction my blog will take in 2012. To be honest, when I originally launched 4Walls and AView 2 years ago, I only intended to do it for 2years because I thought there would be no, or little, interest. Guess I got that wrong since I now have over 70,000 hits and 250 readers, huh?! Thanks to my wonderful readers and thier interaction and interest in my blog I will obviously keep writing! So, that …

Learning to LIVE like a DOG

by Dominique on December 13, 2011 - 18 comments

As I sit here in the early morning hours, I am transfixed by the haphazard sprinkle of lights against the black canvas of night. Silence permeats the cloak of darkness, and yet, there is this innate knowing that city life is slowly awakening to brewing pots of coffee and tea, and that a new day will soon be in full force. The melancholiness of the hour mimicks my heart as I realize that today is the one year anniversary of …