Cosmic balance, parasitic blooms, self reliance

Also: Avalanche school and houseplant heists

Surely the cosmic balance must be nearly restored. After traveling most of December, nearly three weeks in all, since returning to New York I have been forced into monkish retreat by the weight of impending deadlines as well as a multiweek illness that has only just released me from its clutches. I can’t help but note that this semi-compulsory, semi-sec…