the old hit 'em while they're down move

I think almost everyone that knows me would agree that i usually manage to have a positive attitude about things, but some days its harder than others. I've been trying to brace myself for some bad news from my father, waiting to hear that his father let go and passed on. I wasn't at all ready to hear that dad now needs to find a new job. Dad has worked for the catholic church his whole career, at a lot of parishes and diocese(s) (what is the plural of diocese?), and when the economy sucks, people don't donate as much money in general, which means that churches can get hit. Well, his parish in Gainesville was always struggling to make budget anyway, and add to that the local diocese feels the pinch, and makes the supremely intelligent move of calling in loans they've made to their churches, you know, the old hit 'em while they're down move. Well, the parish had to make pay cuts as well as layoffs, and dad was 'lucky' and just got the pay cut. I don't know if it crossed anyone's mind that cutting someone's pay by more than a quarter is a lot like telling them loudly to clear up their desk.

i guess its obvious that i'm upset. Dad is supposed to be making final steps in recovery from his back surgery at this point, and that's sufficiently complicated without the added stress of trying to care for his failing father. This picture does not, to my mind, call for any further complication. Its a selfish way to see it, i guess.

where is the positive? well, my father has a really strong resume for a wide variety of work - that's good.

I was pretty excited about the USA world cup game tomorrow, and going to rochesterfest for a turkey leg or fried nonsense on a stick. My mood now is ugly, instead. I think i'll go watch a movie with lots of things blowing up. Second thought, maybe i don't need that... maybe a comedy.