RE: I will be absent for awhile
Good luck with the finals. My buddy is also going through the same thing. But you want to talk about busy, he has job at night, is a TA so has to grade papers, and on top of that he has his own papers to write for class. The price though to get a PHD, I would never do that.
AT least working for your dad is what yoru studying, correct? so you are getting some real world experience. That is always good.