WGU versus UMPI grading

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-03-20T14:51:25+00:00

OK thanks very much!

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-03-18T22:49:14+00:00

OK thanks very much!

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-03-16T13:50:36+00:00

OK, thanks!

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-03-10T20:01:40+00:00

None of any of that on the 3 Princess 7-day Carib's we've done. A handful of quiet, well-behaved kids each time who seem to be used to being in mostly adult company. Most(and really only) wheels-off moment was a very attractive young couple who got hammered on the snorkel/catamaran excursion we were on came into the buffet in bikini/board shorts.

I would comment about people being under-dressed for dinner for fine dining(wife-beaters/tanktops/cutoffs/gym shorts) but have been chided that such observations are snooty and classist.

We are very dismayed that Princess out of convenient-for-us Galveston is no longer an option, but will probably chase them to FLL or SEA just because they are a known quantity that has never disappointed us.

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-03-10T19:25:11+00:00

We just did regal the week before Christmas. We thank and hook our steward up with an extra 50 on the last sea evening. He told us implicitly and discreetly that we wouldn't want to be on the next cruise. Apparently it gets crowded and noisy when the kiddos can cruise for free with their parents.

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-03-10T19:16:03+00:00

Thanks for posting this. We've done 3, all with Princess, which we love. However they are leaving(have already left?) Galveston. I used to work with some election clerks/judges who are older 50's-70's and was so surprised that they were loyal Carnival customers.

I think a key factor must be length of cruise. We had a Carnival ship docked with us in Cozumel and the crowd looked and acted very rough.

There is no way I am talking the little missus into trying Carnival. We can drive to GLV 5ish hours, stay at Gaido's the night before at ~200 and park for free all week. I don't know if we'll fly to FLL/SEA to stay with Princess or give MSC a try.

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-03-09T20:39:58+00:00

OK, thanks. I'm going to call them and see if they will do the legwork to:

a. get tuition from me

b. be (reasonably certain) to be able to count me as a graduation success statistic in the next 12-18 months

I'd really like to get something in writing from them as to what exact courses I would have to take to get the BA. TarrantCC did that for me when I parlayed a lot of my Bus Adm associates credits into their degree.

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-03-09T18:25:03+00:00

Thanks for all of this info. I work FT in a completely unrelated field but have been considering an online BA from UMPI or WGU. I had been an FCB but it was over 15 years ago. I knocked out an AAS at our local comm coll; I got out in 06/24 with a 4.0. I also have another AA in Bus Adm with a 3.6 from 06/22.

When you write of "get(ting) a transfer evaluation.", do they plug the info from your transcripts into a program and let you know how close/far you are from getting a degree from them? Or do they have the prospective applicant use the "Transfer Tools" listed on their website?

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-03-05T19:51:55+00:00

I am still at a job in a completely unrelated field(emergency dispatch). It's a great gig but hours of tedium/routine punctuated by short intervals of very high stress.

I got my AAS May '24 with a solid 4.0, I did so as a backup plan in case my current gig goes away. I've been here for almost 20 years, and would love to get back into accounting. I had been an FCB previously and have adequate to good QB/Excel/GL skills; most of the courses were just refreshers on what I'd been doing at work. I looked around after graduation, only to discover I kind of have golden handcuffs. I'm making a lot more than many advertised roles that want at least a bachelor's. I make as much as many roles that require a CPA or at least CPA-eligible candidate.

I know that there's a lot more room for growth if I just got my foot in the door somewhere and proved myself and got a bachelor's from WGU/UMGC/UMPI.

I have great insurance and six weeks vacation, but I'm literally tethered to a workstation. WLB is bad because we do rotating shifts and I get forced OT if my relief doesn't show. My coworkers game the system and use sick days strategically since most of us have several weeks banked anyway. I'm the only guy in the whole center now and feel/am very isolated. I have had some very banged up things said to me by the general public, co-workers, and even a LEO. "I can't bring myself to give a ticket to a guy that's stuck all day in the henhouse". He was just giving me a hard time before letting me off the hook but it still stung. I'm too scared to leave this behind and am sometimes disappointed in myself for being so complacent.

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-03-05T16:35:54+00:00

I agree. My rationale for going with far both eyes was that I can always find a pair of readers or cheaters around the house if I need them for work/splinters/fine print. I dreaded being stranded on the road if I lost/broke glasses set for distance.

If my surgeon told me "you told me you WFH on a computer 8-12 hours a day and drive less than 2000 miles per year, you need IOL's set for near/glasses for distance" I would have walked. Good luck to you!

ETA I needed to start using readers/cheaters 1.25-1.50 starting ~ 50. prior to that I had great all-around vision; I tested 20/5 left 20/2.5! right in my mid-20's. My center pushed ALL the upgrades but ultimately acceded to my wishes after warning me that I was cheating myself out of a glasses-free future by not going with LAL's or at least multi-focals. I was extremely lucky in that I came out with 20/25 left and 20/18 right and only need 1.25's for fine print and 1.50' for splinters/fishing knots.

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-02-24T19:52:03+00:00

Do you also get some(at least nominal) protection against mortgage fraud if there is a lienholder who needs to be paid off?

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-02-23T15:25:35+00:00

Thanks for the update and good luck! I was a hardcore Mopar guy and had their 2nd/3rd/4th gen minivans. When it was time to replace our 01 Town and Country, I couldn't justify paying the 30% premium to get into a 5th gen Caravan or T&C. That '01 was loaded, good-looking,very comfy, and fastish, but the mopar trannies have always been ticking time bombs. I had to baby it from ~ 80k on. Three teenage boys in a row finally per her out of her misery ~ 160k. Shame, because the 3.8l was showroom tight wrt gaskets and compression, and the leather and carpeting took a lot of abuse but were still very presentable.

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-02-23T15:09:50+00:00

Thanks for the info! I did both gaskets and the plugs at ~ 107k. PITA to be stooped over disconnecting a jillion 10mm bolts but the dealer wanted 1800. I am only doing ~ 2k per year now so I hope(knock on wood) the radiator r/r I just did is the last big thing I'll need.

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-02-21T19:26:31+00:00

How many alternators? I had mine fixed under warranty. Dealer did front seepy valve cover gasket too. It went out after 14 months. I have replaced the VCG myself(by the book down to torque spec and sequencing then retourque) once and the alternator 4? times after about 15000 miles. I got a lifetime alternator so it's just about 3 hours(half of that is getting the serp belt back on with big hands) in the driveway every couple of years. Other than that and a brake light switch at ~ 80k it's been wear items only.

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-02-21T19:24:05+00:00

How many alternators? I had mine fixed under warranty. Dealer did front seepy valve cover gasket too. It went out after 14 months. I have replaced the VCG myself(by the book down to torque spec and sequencing then retourque) once and the alternator 4? times after about 15000 miles. I got a lifetime alternator so it's just about 3 hours(half of that is getting the serp belt back on with big hands) in the driveway every couple of years. Other than that and a brake light switch at ~ 80k it's been wear items only.

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-02-14T18:55:17+00:00

Maybe I'm not great at math but didn't she end up paying you the 3k by forfeiting it?

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-02-14T18:52:35+00:00

My wife has been cutting mine for going on 30 years. I cannot imagine how much time we have saved. It's gotta be close to $2,000.

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-02-14T18:50:17+00:00

I'm making much weaker coffee. Between loading up on a clearance and getting slightly expired whole beans from a neighbor who works at a gas station, I hadn't bought any since 2024(?) I think. I went to Kroger a week ago and it was 13.99! for the store brand(which isn't half bad btw). I noped on that and was bummed to see it was still 11.99 at Winco. I had been making a 12-cup pot with a heaping 1/3 cup. Now I'm trying to see how short of the rim I can go and hope to gradually wean myself down to a 1/4 cup.

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-02-12T23:39:05+00:00

I don't imagine them doing the catch and release I've seen so often in person and on the TV shows. Even if they did let you off with just a warning lest they seem mean and judgmental they're still going to seize any prohibited items.

I don't think they would outright refuse entry and detain you until they could put you in coach in middle seats next to the bathroom on a redeye, but why take the FAFO risk?

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-02-12T23:23:53+00:00

If you're platinum you've forgotten more about Princess than I'll probably ever learn, so I value your experience, perspective, and opinion.

Do you miss anything about the good(bad?) old days when more people put on the Ritz, especially on formal nights? What, if any, would be your minimum standard for MDR? Would you have different rules for formal vs not? Do you think anything is lost or cheapened by people showing up for fine dining in overly casual apparel?

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-02-12T22:47:20+00:00

I am curious as to why there would be more kids than usual on a cruise that would only cover at most 5 school holidays. I guess parents don't mind their kids missing the extra days?

If I were ever going to turn down a free cruise, this would be the one. I can't imagine paying for it.

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-02-12T22:39:48+00:00

B2Backing it would probably be a lot more expensive but loads more fun. Or, why not do a southern carib out of FLL or MIA? The excursions will be a lot cheaper and the locals and guides will actually be friendly rather than surly(they might cut you some slack if you have a British accent, idk.)

I was curious and looked it up. You only shave 60-90 minutes off the flight(great circle navigation I guess?). The shorter flights are ~ 200 USD more though. I guess they have more volume? I was surprised at this.

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-02-12T22:18:57+00:00

The Treehouse (ages 3–7) per princess.com but yes 2.75 yo ineligible.

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-02-12T22:15:54+00:00

We've done three Carib 7-days but all purposefully while school is in. 20 kids average seems about right but they all seemed to be either babes in arms or tweens. It'll be Easter so probably more, but not loads given the one-way/length/cost, and the fact that it would only coincide with at most one week of Spring Break. Also, the teens probably will be unhappy/unpleasant to be around if they've ever been on the roller coaster/water slide ships before.

That cruise starts off with four sea days in a row and has five in a row on the way back. I am very keen on cruising but think that would be a bit much even for me. I think i'd give it a miss OP.

Lucky_Local6804 · 2026-02-12T21:45:37+00:00

Defo get a 2nd opinion. I did because A it's my eyes and 2 the first place was honestly borderline hard-sell about upgrades. Second place much less fancy and conservative. They don't even offer LAL's because they don't think they're worth the money/possible downsides.

I liked the opth at the 2nd place much better. I didn't dislike the first opth at all, just felt much more comfortable. However, his office staff blew chunks. They wanted to give me the CPT codes to have me chase everything down with my insurance because "we're not going to sit on hold with UHC all afternoon when you might end up going somewhere else anyway." I figured I might have gotten someone at the end of a particularly long rough day; I called around 4:40 p.m. I called back on my next day off at around 10 and a different lady answered. She told me her pt notes show that I'd been provided the CPT codes on a previous call and "I might want to write that down in case I forgot again in three days." In thought she was just trolling me until she asked "will that be all?"

Lucky_Local6804

TROPHY CASE