Jaw Injury by Bagel? My entry into the world of TMJ, or How Online Sales Can Be Hazardous to One's Health

Ouch.

Much like the popcorn-kernel-incident (another story for another time, or how a stray kernel of popcorn cost me $75), this one started out innocently enough. Went to lunch yesterday, on a coworker's treat, ordered an "everything" bagel with cream cheese. Halfway through said bagel, EXTREME sharp pain and major crepitus (grating sounds) in the jaw.

Today, the oral surgeon. (why the OS? Because back in February I had jaw surgery and thought this might be a complication of the healing process.) OS looked at X-rays & did examination, everything seems to be healing from the surgery, but the joint is a mess. Referred me to a TMJ specialist.

One problem here: TMJ is a kind of insurance gray area. Why this is, I have no idea, because when one injures their jaw, the pain is there just as much as it is for other joint injuries or conditions. So, the specialist isn't a "member" of any insurance at all, and to get any reimbursement for coverage a person has to file with their insurance company and hope for the best. Out of network best, to those with HMOs.

Sigh.

Stressful as the weeks since the US's economic "meltdown" has been, I am not surprised that I have apparently been either grinding my teeth or clenching my jaw in anger.

(Sorry for the interruption, but pray tell, HOW does this relate to your Rustmonger business online?)

Good question.

Well. The answer is that I think I've been stressing out just a little trying to find a great place to sell the Rustmonger inventory that would be less of a hassle and as good a "venue" as eBay. There are so many options out there right now, and many of them have wonderful potential, many of them with potential may fade into nothing. Change is always stressful and I hope that the changes are healthy for all of us that have been, up to now, pretty much reliant upon eBay as a place we could for the most part get visibility for and sell our inventory.

Right now my choices are: Loudfrog, Online Auction, eCrater, possibly eWaey, and a real newcomer with potential, LoftBlvd. Others' choices may be seen if you Google "eBay alternatives. (Check links at right for my active sites.), and of course there is a partial list of alternatives on this blog from an earlier date.

"Your mileage (of course) may vary" at these sites and each has its quirks, but these three seemed attractive to me as good potentials for my diversification. Time will tell how these other venues work, of course.

Next post: More items up for sale, and how the sellers' action (of hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands or millions? Depending upon the source, it could be any of those numbers) against eBay is playing out for Rustmonger Vintage Tooling & More.

(The "I" in this post is Kathleen, author of this blog, who is otherwise known as "moonlunasea", RosieRiveter, and actiasluna on various online sales sites.)