The talking box is incredible. It surely would have made managing an army much easier. Imagine how much easier a time we could have had in the Fallow Mire, had Scout Harding been able to instantly call and say "there is a large number of plagued undead here, and you'll want to waterproof your boots as much as you can."
I am well, if still perpetually somewhat confused. Taking lodging in Skyhold makes it a little easier, simply for having a familiar place to retreat to at day's end. I've found work, and I have perhaps foolishly volunteered to take a role in a play because the original participant vanished.