double feature #3.

Well, hey. Here we are again.

I have a confession to make to you, dear readers. As it pains and embarrasses me to admit, I feel I must be forthcoming. Ready?

I had never seen Harold and Maude until this week.

I know, I know. It's blasphemous--absurd, even. But I am happy to come clean and THRILLED that I've finally experienced this little slice of Hal Ashby genius (in my defense, I've always been a big Shampoo fan).

So, humor me for a moment, while I rave about the brilliant, faked-death set pieces, the dichotomy of Bud Cort's baby face and deep, sexy voice, computer dates--in 1971(!), and the wonder that is the delightfully-named Vivian Pickles.

OK, I just had to get that all out. Let's move on.

I rounded out this week's Double Feature with a viewing of Being There. It seemed only logical. My friend Tori had loaned it to me for my convalescence, and it was sitting atop the TV, begging me to pop it in to the blu-ray.

I loved this movie--and I don't generally care for stories about the Village Idiot or the Holy Fool, but Being There transcends with a quiet story, a deceptively subtle performance by Peter Sellars and an especially winsome Shirley MacLaine as a D.C. trophy wife.

Photo via National Geographic.

I came across a lovely article in the New York Times by ovarian cancer survivor and Indiana University Professor of English Susan Gubar. Living with Cancer: Practicing Loss, quoting the Elizabeth Bishop poem One Art, poses that our losses in life can be mastered, as an art.

Professor Gubar has also written a memoir about her cancer journey, which my mom promptly sent to my Kindle after I posted the NYT article on Facebook. I really want to read it, however, one reviewer posted on Amazon that if you are currently going through cancer treatment, you may want to wait until you are in the clear. I may take that advice.

My first chemo wig...what do you think? I wanted to go all the way, and I'm loving the look. But the temps have already reached 100 degrees here in L.A., so I may just stick with my light-as-air silk scarves. Still, it's nice to have a statement wig in my Chemo Chic arsenal.

Speaking of Chemo Chic, I've decided on my go-to look for Summer 2014: maxi dress, which--let's face it--is basically a socially-acceptable nightgown, statement necklace, colorful bandana and easy shrug (for when the AC gets chilly). I've tested the schematic out a few times already and gotten quite a few compliments. It's a go.

So, here is my weekend roundup. If I could be out doing fun stuff around the city, this is what I would be doing. There's a lot I need to get through, so stay with me!

Tonight and tomorrow night, check out the inaugural True Romance Fest, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Tarantino/Scott film, hosted by Bronson Pinchot at the iconic Safari Inn where it was shot.

The weekend also kicks off a trio of Philip Glass concerts at UCLA as part of the L.A. Phil's Minimalist Jukebox program. Tonight features Glass's opera set to Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast, followed by concerts on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday is California Book Store Day--yea! It's just like Record Store Day, but with books--and independent powerhouses Skylight Books, Book Soup and Vroman's will all be participating.

Skylight Books via Time Out.

Also on Saturday night, violinist Vladimir Spivakov conducts the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra at the gorgeous Wilshire Ebell Theater. I thought this looked like an interesting option off the beaten path of classical music in L.A., plus a chance to experience a (or an?) historic space.

While I'm treating my cancer, I'm on disability, which comes to me every couple of weeks on a Bank of America debit card. It's very convenient, and the great state of California hasn't let me down yet, for which I am grateful.

So, I was also delighted to learn that the first weekend of every month is Free Museum Day for Bank of America cardholders. I thought this Sunday would be the perfect opportunity to take in the Gehry-designed Calder and Abstraction exhibit at LACMA,

Gehry and Calder. Photo via LA Times.

After all that excitement over the weekend, you may be exhausted. I understand. So, rest on Monday, and then get ready, because there are two exciting events happening on Tuesday night.

Take in one of my all-time favorite movies Manhunter at the Egyptian Theater. Before there was Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter, there was (IMHO) the far superior Brian Cox as one of film history's most chilling villains. This is a rare chance to see this Michael Mann masterpiece on the big screen, followed by a talk with Maynard Keenan from the band Tool.

"Dream much, Will?"

But if face-chewing serial killers don't get you all rarin' to go on a Tuesday night, then Disney Hall is the place to be for the L.A. Phil's Green Umbrella Series. I love these intimate, avant-garde concerts that showcase the works of modern composers performed by members of the Philharmonic. Tuesday's show features conductor Jeffrey Milarsky leading pieces by Birtwistle, Messiaen and the West Coast premiere of Joy by Magnus Lindberg.

Composer and conductor Magnus Lindberg.

That's all for now. Have fun this weekend. I'll be back soon.