So last week I was fixing the fence when this big ol’ horse fly started dive-bombing my head. Swatted it hard, but the sucker bit me right through my shirt. Next morning, my coffee mug slipped and burned the heck outta my hand. Got me thinking – which nuisance wrecks my day more? Grabbed my notebook and started tracking both for a whole week straight.
The Fly Drama
Set up a bug zapper near the barn and counted carcasses every evening. Horse flies came mostly between 3-5 PM when I was doing chores. Documented each bite:
- Monday: Bit my ankle drawing blood during hay baling
- Wednesday: Chased me halfway across the pasture
- Friday: Left swelling like a golf ball on my forearm
Had to stop working 3 times total just to clean bites with alcohol wipes. Each interruption stole about 15 minutes. Worst part? Couldn’t even enjoy my porch beer without those jerks buzzing my ears.
Hand Hazards
Started noting every time I messed up using my hands:
- Smashed thumb with hammer changing horseshoes
- Sliced finger opening feed bags (stupid plastic seals)
- Spilled boiling water making pasta – twice!
Average band-aid time per injury: 7 minutes. But holy cow, the mental toll was worse. Couldn’t grip tools properly for hours after smashing fingers. That sliced finger made me drop buckets three separate times. Burn blisters? Forget sleeping comfortably.
The Raw Numbers
Tallied everything Sunday night:
- Fly attacks: 5 physical hits, 3 hours lost swatting/preventing
- Hand mishaps: 8 injuries, 6 hours total recovery/productivity loss
Surprised me how hand slips added up. That burner incident ruined two cooking pans plus wasted ingredients. Fly bites healed faster than the deep bruise from dropping a wrench on my knuckles.
Final Verdict
Hands down, my own clumsy paws caused more damage. Flies brought momentary rage, but hand screw-ups created chain reactions. Whacked thumb? Couldn’t drive tractor smoothly. Burned palm? Couldn’t groom the horses properly. The little everyday fumbles piled up way worse than those flying demons. Gonna start wearing thicker gloves even in summer heat.
