Desert Messenger

August 10, 2016 www.DesertMessenger.com 15 QuartzFest celebrates 20th year ME HOW TO BUILD A LASTING RELATIONSHIP: 1. Cut on dotted line 2. Rotate 180 degrees IF YOU WANT A STRONGER BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WORK TOGETHER Join the Quartzsite Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism 1240 W. Main St., Quartzsite • www.QuartzsiteTourism.com • 928-927-5200 We have great lunch menus, serving at 12 noon sharp! Suggested donation is only $3.50. There's cards, books, games, puzzles, pool table, Wi-Fi available. Community Services, Volunteers Needed! Come join the fun at Quartzsite SENIOR Center 40 Moon Mountain Ave. For more information call 928-927-6496 Senior Center open all year! Monday - Friday, 9am – 3pm Traveling with Gypsy Jane I'm not sure when I fell in love with the actor Val Kilmer. I've seen so many of his movies. It may have been his portrayal of bad-boy musi- cian Jim Morrison in the movie "The Doors" in which he sang a lot of the songs, but I KNOW his outstanding performance as Doc Holliday in "Tombstone" cinched it. He couldn't have been better! Betty at the Quartzsite Library knows of my Valaddiction and lies in wait for me with yet another Val Kilmer movie, and a "Jane, have you seen this one?" The thing I like most about Val is the variety of characters he plays; always different (e.g., a sensitive, gentle, and gorgeous blind mas- seuse in "At First Sight"; a master of disguise in "The Saint") unlike many actors who have been type cast, like Tom Cruise who was charming in "Show Me the Money" and now only does tough-guy roles. (The only one who compares to Val as far as variety is Nicholas Cage -- another favorite of mine -- not only because I never know what his character will be, but because he's a terrific actor. ) I don't consider myself a "group- ie".....exactly. Like I don't frequent the websites of famous actors and musicians, BUT I must admit to checking out Val Kilmer's. Now why in the world did I do that??? Oh yeah, I saw a notice on the Internet about his playing Mark Twain in a live-theater perfor- mance. What a surprise! Mark Twain is also one of my heroes -- two favorites in one. So I went to Val's website to check it out. Sure enough there were photos of him as Mark Twain. A one-man show is a huge undertaking, and Val isn't the young man he once was, almost unrecognizable early in his career in "Top Gun." While on his website, I read some fan comments and was further pleased to see Val actually answered them in a very humble manner. (Be still my heart!) And yes, of course I left a comment (something about appreciating his not being type cast and that he was the best Doc Holliday EVER). I also learned that Val is an artist. His paintings are for sale on his website, and many are pictured there. And NO, I didn't buy one, although I felt they were surpris- ingly reasonable for someone so famous. But who knows? I have a birthday coming up..... "I'm your huckleberry." ~Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in "Tombstone" (I have no idea what this famous quote means, but if you're inter- ested: http://home.earthlink. net/~knuthco1/Itemsofinterest1/ huckleberrysource.) Jane's book is WANDERINGS: Liv- ing the Ordinary Extraordinarily (Stories from the Road). For an update on Jane's travels and writ- ing, visit her website (janefinley. com) and/or read "Traveling with Gypsy Jane" and "Poems from the Road" in The Desert Messenger (desertmessenger.com) begin- ning March 5, 2014. (contact: janefinley@yahoo,com) by Jane Finley writer * artist * teacher (stretching, exercise, relaxation, meditation) VAL KILMER be still my heart If you need someone to speak with after Sunday's devastating news, Cenpatico Crisis Line is open 24 hours/day. 1-866-495-6735 The QuartzFest ARRL Specialty Convention is the only event of its kind… a week-long ham radio, camping, learning and living event. QuartzFest 2017 (Q17) will build on the best of its first 20 years by offering 100+ seminars throughout the week and like always, will be held in the middle of the beautiful Sonoran Desert. These seminars will offer something for everyone including new ham radio enthu- siasts all the way to veteran op- erators. Participants will also see newly expanded seminar areas and new high quality audio and visual presentation systems. Visit www.QuartzFest.org or join us on Facebook to learn more.

• Cover