Bill,
Your story makes me feel a lot better about my experience yesterday. I did my first cutout. No where near as interesting as yours, but reality nonetheless.
You impress me with the fact that you can absorb multiple stings. I think I would be in trouble if I got stung that many times. I keep hoping I build some immunity. Every time I get ONE sting, I get huge local swelling. I still think it is a small price to pay. I just need to avoid it better.
I accessed my cutout from the outside, to enter the wall of an old summer kitchen. I thought I had alot to deal with, but I didn't get stung until I got home. Compared to yours, mine was cake LOL. It was hours later, and I was cleaning tools and putting things away. I must have knocked a bee into my sandal, and she did not like it. My foot and ankle are about twice normal size. fun!
My experience, like I said, doesn't compare when it comes to stings and size of colony. I did comment to my buddy, as we stumbled around outside the building, that I would never do another one without charging.
Do you charge for cutouts? I can't imagine doing one, again, without some compensation. I should have listened to the old-timers that told me it wasn't worth the time. I guess I had to learn the hard way, though.
One last thing, really the only similarity. The owner showed up just as we were preparing to leave. I was carrying ladders etc, and had removed my gloves and veil. The owner was at least 50 yards away, but still got nailed between the eyes. I felt pretty bad. The bee that stung him, had been in my hair and I was waiting to deal with it until I put the ladder down. My buddy saw it leave my head and drive straight into his forehead. I guess bad things happen when owners show up at the last minute.