As a forgetful beekeeper I have made a habit of writing abbreviated notes right on the back of the hives as I complete my periodic inspections. I had lost my marker so I had to go back later to document what I had done on just the one smallest hive in my yard. I didn't think I needed to put on my viel for the 10 seconds it was going to take to write on the back of the hive, but I was wrong. I had barely written the date and one of the girls, (all the guards bees and workers are female) came out at high speed, directly at my face with her stinger loaded. In the past they have just bumped me a few times as a warning, but this girl was going to shoot first and ask questions later. She got me right on the cheek, (OUCH!) and I ran, yelling and flailing like a bad beekeeper. A good beekeeper would have walked away calmly, but I react instictively and look like a complete idiot. I'm not allergic, the stings never really hurt that much or for long, and I get to show off what a tough guy I am, (as long as nobody saw me yelp like a whimp).
