A Sense of Closure

Didn't post yesterday -- long day, lots of work, bit of stress, wanted to crash.  Of course, I couldn't fall asleep; I ended up waking up at 2:20 AM and reading a bit.  I finished my previous book -- Fall of the Double Eagle (about the breakup of the Hapsburg Empire) and am reading a crime one -- recommended to me, interesting but more in the way that you want to know how it ends.  The Hapsburg was interesting -- about 85% of it was devoted to before the war and the early campaigns, where the Hapsburg army suffered grievous losses.  The author posited that this was why the empire collapsed... which is sort of true, but:

1) That could be said about every combatant nation in WWI and not all of them collapsed; and 
2) The author takes pains to note that the Empire's army, despite its multi-ethnic and multilingual nature, seemed to hold on throughout the war, not collapsing til the very end. 

So I am not fully convinced?  I would posit the weakness of the Empire in 1918 helped, as well as the Allies letting the place fall apart (note that, say, Germany was not broken, in a reversal of the 1871 unification).  I think only later (much!) did they realize this was a military mistake...

Tonight I took the night off and went to see the final Downton Abbey movie.  It was...good not great?  Maybe Julian Fellowes is concentrating on other things?  Ok, it was good -- resolved the story lines (happily), tied up loose points, sent the show off happily.  The lines were good not great (Maggie Smith was missed here) and while the story lines were interesting... it seemed like they were trying to do too much?  Anyways, I have to admit -- I saw it at Ridge Park -- for $14, it's a sweet deal.  You get a comfy seat -- adjustable, plenty of room, etc.   I was thinking about how much an airline ticket costs and how little space you get there (yes, I realize I am going somewhere)...

The Catholic history of praying for souls in purgatory
Interesting.  One thing I love about the Church is its message of universality -- the dead are dead but not truly gone, meriting our prayers and remembrances -- and continuity.  Here on earth or in heaven, all are united in Christ.  As with so many things, it is both cool and sobering...