Today I Became a Beek

[MustbeeNuts]

Well I started my first hive in Apr. and today I got my first sting, right on my thumb, I must have smushed her just a tad to much, I didn't  see her under there and BAMMM! Ouch,, lol I hadn't been stung for so  many years, I didn't remember how much that smarts. I feel like a beeman now.  :-D :-D

[johnnybigfish]

 Congratulations MbN!
I especially like the finger stings right on the edge of the fingernails.
Its kind of a thrill getting stung, huh? Like, you know, how you want to thrash and mash and tell the bees how dang stupid they are, but you know you cant?...They always seem to have the upper hand and get the last word (sting) in!...A sting seems the best way to be humbled by a little guy( girl bee to be exact)

Your friend,
john

[DrKurtG]

Haha. My son and I have a dollar bet per sting. By the end of October, who ever has the most stings pays the other a doller/sting. At the moment, I'm down five bucks...

[tlynn]

Yea, it's really a thrill!  I think it's kind of a release...I was all worked up about it for the longest, and when I got my first one I said, "Hell, that wasn't so bad!"  Couldn't remember the last time I got stung.  Surely it was when I was a kid.  Because of course adults play it safe!

[Bill W.]

You'll feel even more like a beeman tomorrow when your thumb is swollen up and out of commission.   :-D

Recently, I've been making sure I get stung at least every four days to try to build better resistance.  It is slowly working, but it is taking a lot more stings than I hoped.

[johnnybigfish]

 I went to Pauls yesterday to eat cake(birthday) I had been giving the bees some syrup and it was sort of getting stormy...I told Paul I got stung 3 times..Funny thing tho,....I couldnt remember where!
Just last season I could and would point out every place i would get stung for a few days. This was the first time I remember of not being able to remember or feel the sting area after 30 minutes!

your friend,
john

[indypartridge]

I hadn't been stung for so many years, I didn't remember how much that smarts.

After being stung only by honeybees for the last few years, last summer I took several stings from some yellowjackets that had nested in a retaining wall. I was amazed at how much more they hurt than the stings from "my girls".

[Steve M.]

I'm still anticipating my first sting.  I am surprised that I haven't been stung yet, actually.  I have, out of necessity, worked them in a light drizzle, roto-tilled, mowed, weed-whacked all within 5 to 10 feet of the entrance, accidentally bumped and jarred their hive while inspecting, and when I suspected I was Queenless, had the whole hive practically torn apart looking for signs of a queen.  I am thankful I have gentle bees, but I think they have me spoiled!

--Steve

[BeeHopper]

A REAL Beekeeper is " Christened " with a few stings to the face  :evil:

Just Kiddin', those are not fun at all.   :shock:

[KONASDAD]

I get "chirstened" at least once a week. the bees just love my face. Got stung on eye last nite, neck, arms, feet legs. Just another day of removals....No arthritis today!

[marliah]

haha in that case I became a real beek today too. Got my first sting about 30 minutes ago when I was checkin the girls and adding a honey super.

[Keith13]

I'm still anticipating my first sting.  I am surprised that I haven't been stung yet, actually.  I have, out of necessity, worked them in a light drizzle, roto-tilled, mowed, weed-whacked all within 5 to 10 feet of the entrance, accidentally bumped and jarred their hive while inspecting, and when I suspected I was Queenless, had the whole hive practically torn apart looking for signs of a queen.  I am thankful I have gentle bees, but I think they have me spoiled!

--Steve

it seems they are lulling you into a false sense of security. I had a hive do that to me, but they refreshed my memory quickly one day when I got little to cocky :-D

Keith

[Steve M.]

it seems they are lulling you into a false sense of security. I had a hive do that to me, but they refreshed my memory quickly one day when I got little to cocky :-D

Keith

I imagine you are right....I'm sure it is only a matter of time before they get me.  Right now they are acting so nicely, I have been trying to move towards not wearing my bulky leather gloves.  I tried using a double layer of latex gloves the other day, and was impressed with how much easier it was to move frames,etc.  Most likely the first day I go gloveless will be the day I get "Christened".
--Steve

[NWIN Beekeeper]

[Just another day of removals...]

Yeah, complaints of one here or two there are funny to share.

I remember early on dropping a super of foundationless combs and having the unsecured combs dropping out and have couple dozen stings. But when you drop an angry branch swarm or pull off a chunk of siding that tears a comb in half, and then you suffer a hundred or two stings, then your attitude changes dramatically. When you get around 50-75 you start to wonder is it going to stop, and you get concerned have you been stung too many times and are you going to suddenly going to drop dead or die from congestive heart failure as your body reacts and floods with fuilds. And then the real fear sets in, the bee stings done, the poision in, you are already at a point of no turning back. At that moment you pray to god that you doing your life right and you will live through this. You promise to use a veil next time, purhaps more smoke, and think the situation through more thoroughly next time.

Funny thing is you don't think I'm not doing this anymore, you're planning the next time.
I don't know if that is supidity or a testimoney to the durability of beekeepers.
Beekeeping grows your personality and character in ways nothing else can.

-Jeff