“I pray thee peace, I will be flesh and blood;
For there was never yet philosopher
That could endure the toothache patiently,
However they have writ the style of gods,
And made a push at chance and sufferance.”
— William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing
I am no philosopher, yet Leonato’s metaphor holds; I’ve been waking every morning with an aching jaw from severe bruxism, and by day, I clench my teeth instead.
This has for me in times of stress been a recurring problem for years. In the three months I spent flat-out studying for my master’s exams, I cracked two fillings from grinding at night. Just before my doctoral exams, I cracked a tooth instead, and ended up with a crown. (Both these despite a mouth guard).
(There have been several work-related periods over the years that have caused similar issues…but I really shouldn’t go into those.)
Right now, I’m woefully behind on writing my dissertation (“Much Ado” is one of “my” plays, by the by), and while I’d like to blame my current stress and resulting sore jaw on that (and perhaps that’s part of it), I’m fairly certain that my house not yet having garnered any interest is what’s currently causing me to wear away what’s left of my enamel.
As per usual in my life (waah), I think it’s mostly due to poor timing. In the early spring, houses in my neighborhood of similar size and state were selling (and at much higher prices than mine) almost overnight. I (perhaps foolishly) waited until the summer sales doldrums to list. Had I not, however, I’d have had two rooms in dire need of painting and an overabundance of stuff junking up the place. My timing…it was off.
But the shockingly fast sales in April and May filled me with false hope – I was certain I’d be packing by now (packing more, really – I have several boxes of overflow baking dishes and the like stored in a friend’s basement, and many of my home-shop tools are currently in my tool chest at work).
It’s been three weeks since my house went on the market, and while intellectually I realize that’s not much time at all as these things go, dentally it feels like far longer.
“Why, this is a very midsummer madness.”— William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night (another of “my” plays)
Rude Mechanicals Press Blog 
Just a thought to share. If the houses of similar size and condition in your neighborhood were bringing higher prices earlier, then perhaps you should consider increasing our price slightly if no offer is forthcoming. It just could be that a lower price frightens people into believing there is a problem with the house. Buyers can be strange ducks from time to time and you never know for sure just what is or is not an incentive. Best of luck with your sale.
Hello, great blog about selling your home, three weeks is not a long time. I live in new york and the housing market is moving fast , it took us three months to sell and then starts the closing another 30 to 60 days. Hope you can hang in there….
Megan, I am really sorry to hear about your bruxism. Have you considered having your dentist make you a mouth guard to wear at night? If that either takes too much time or is too expensive, you could also go to a sporting goods store and buy a hockey mouth guard. Take it home, and place it in boiling water and then bite down on it and it will mold to your mouth. Let it cool off and you should have a perfect fit that will allow you to breathe as well as sleep. :o)
Your house will sell and it will not feel as if it took so dentally long once you get that part under control. :o) Great image and phrase. :o)
Fred
Just a thought, but is “All’s Well That Ends Well” one of your plays? Not to tempt fate, but if not, it’s something to consider.
I actually think that play ends badly. Poor Helena – I predict she’ll divorce that uppity, no-good Bertram in short order.
All’s well that ends as you like it…
A continuing comedy of errors…
Three weeks? My dear woman, I have loved you from afar for quite the long while, but I will have to be brutally honest here when I say that I just began my third YEAR of having my house listed. Different location, different everything, but still. Not that I would ever wish anything like that on you, and were I a rich man I’d have bought yours on the first day just to save you the pain and anguish, but I am not, and I would instead council patience and expectation management. And, stop grinding!
Um, thanks. I can promise you mine will not be in the market for three years. Worst case scenario involves renting a shop space nearby, and redoing my kitchen (which is a perfectly acceptable outcome, though not my ideal one). Three years?! I admire your intestinal fortitude.
Off-topic but not off-title: have you seen the recently released “Much Ado”?
“Much” is my favorite of S’s comedies, and Joss’ film is my favorite presentation yet.
Not yet…because it hasn’t yet come to Cincinnati. But I certainly plan to!