A Man’s Life tells the story of Phil Reed’s life, which began auspiciously on the plains of Oklahoma in the 1930s. Amazingly, he was born at the height of a devastating tornado. He was the third child of a mother of American Indian descent and a father who was a blue-eyed Scot, a member of a family struggled and had many ups and downs. At times it felt as though he and his family had no luck at all.

Reed has always found himself to be different from those around him. Even as a boy he was always a bit removed from the other kids, preferring to paint rather than play. As he got older, he spent most of his life on the move trying to find himself.

Reed experienced a wide variety of events in his sixty years; now, he recounts those experiences in a series of short stories. From fighting in Asia to dropping acid in the Haight during the sixties, he has lived a life on the edge. He towed oil rigs and barges in Alaska, survived a plane crash, and more. He has lived a life fully with no apologies.

A Man’s Life tells the story of Phil Reed’s life, which began auspiciously on the plains of Oklahoma in the 1930s. Amazingly, he was born at the height of a devastating tornado. He was the third child of a mother of American Indian descent and a father who was a blue-eyed Scot, a member of a family struggled and had many ups and downs. At times it felt as though he and his family had no luck at all.

Reed has always found himself to be different from those around him. Even as a boy he was always a bit removed from the other kids, preferring to paint rather than play. As he got older, he spent most of his life on the move trying to find himself.

Reed experienced a wide variety of events in his sixty years; now, he recounts those experiences in a series of short stories. From fighting in Asia to dropping acid in the Haight during the sixties, he has lived a life on the edge. He towed oil rigs and barges in Alaska, survived a plane crash, and more. He has lived a life fully with no apologies.

A Man’s Life tells the story of Phil Reed’s life, which began auspiciously on the plains of Oklahoma in the 1930s. Amazingly, he was born at the height of a devastating tornado. He was the third child of a mother of American Indian descent and a father who was a blue-eyed Scot, a member of a family struggled and had many ups and downs. At times it felt as though he and his family had no luck at all.

Reed has always found himself to be different from those around him. Even as a boy he was always a bit removed from the other kids, preferring to paint rather than play. As he got older, he spent most of his life on the move trying to find himself.

Reed experienced a wide variety of events in his sixty years; now, he recounts those experiences in a series of short stories. From fighting in Asia to dropping acid in the Haight during the sixties, he has lived a life on the edge. He towed oil rigs and barges in Alaska, survived a plane crash, and more. He has lived a life fully with no apologies.

In 1956, as an excited, hopeful, 20 year old young man, I began a career in the feature animation department of Walt Disney Productions, now known as Walt Disney Feature Animation. At the time I just thought that anyone who could draw a little could work there, after all they hired me. I soon found that it took a great deal more talent and skill than just to be able to draw a little.

After many years of working in the field as a special effects animator, with many established, successful old timers, I came to realize that my time and place was very special. I did learn to draw a lot and to be helpful in the process of making some very extraordinary motion pictures.

I retired, January 2004, and have written my fun story, Flyin’ Chunks and Other Things to Duck, illustrating my struggles to continue in the field of animation, all the while managing to duck those flyin’ chunks which are always a part of every ones effort to live life.

Dorse Lanpher

In 1956, as an excited, hopeful, 20 year old young man, I began a career in the feature animation department of Walt Disney Productions, now known as Walt Disney Feature Animation. At the time I just thought that anyone who could draw a little could work there, after all they hired me. I soon found that it took a great deal more talent and skill than just to be able to draw a little.

After many years of working in the field as a special effects animator, with many established, successful old timers, I came to realize that my time and place was very special. I did learn to draw a lot and to be helpful in the process of making some very extraordinary motion pictures.

I retired, January 2004, and have written my fun story, Flyin’ Chunks and Other Things to Duck, illustrating my struggles to continue in the field of animation, all the while managing to duck those flyin’ chunks which are always a part of every ones effort to live life.

Dorse Lanpher

In 1956, as an excited, hopeful, 20 year old young man, I began a career in the feature animation department of Walt Disney Productions, now known as Walt Disney Feature Animation. At the time I just thought that anyone who could draw a little could work there, after all they hired me. I soon found that it took a great deal more talent and skill than just to be able to draw a little.

After many years of working in the field as a special effects animator, with many established, successful old timers, I came to realize that my time and place was very special. I did learn to draw a lot and to be helpful in the process of making some very extraordinary motion pictures.

I retired, January 2004, and have written my fun story, Flyin’ Chunks and Other Things to Duck, illustrating my struggles to continue in the field of animation, all the while managing to duck those flyin’ chunks which are always a part of every ones effort to live life.

Dorse Lanpher

Who inspired her?

Why did she become such a prankster?

What challenges did she face as a young woman striving to become an Animator at Walt Disney Productions in the 1970's?

What was studio life really like?

Titter titter

What outrageous and hilarious things did Heidi and the other young Animators do while they worked for Disney?

Why did Heidi and 15 other gifted young Animators all walk out of Walt Disney Productions to make The Secret of NIMH?

Find out!

Heidi Guedel tells you all about it with unflinching honesty and humor.

Who inspired her?

Why did she become such a prankster?

What challenges did she face as a young woman striving to become an Animator at Walt Disney Productions in the 1970's?

What was studio life really like?

Titter titter

What outrageous and hilarious things did Heidi and the other young Animators do while they worked for Disney?

Why did Heidi and 15 other gifted young Animators all walk out of Walt Disney Productions to make The Secret of NIMH?

Find out!

Heidi Guedel tells you all about it with unflinching honesty and humor.

Despite severe diabetes, Russell Ogg was a successful photographer who traveled worldwide with his wife, journalist Norma Lee Browning. He's always been able to cope with anything, but when diabetes began to rob him of his sight, "it was like a violinist losing his fingers."

When Norma Lee saw him sitting day after day on the patio of their home in Palm Springs, slumped in despair, his sightless eyes fixed on nothing, she too became depressed. But a miracle was about to happen.

Then suddenly a red hummingbird appeared that changed their lives.

Norma Lee frankly describes her doubts and the errors she made in identifying the birds her husband tried to photograph. She also concludes, from her close observation of the hummers, that "the experts" are wrong on many counts.

But the miracle that provides the heart-warming conclusion to this unusual story involves Russell Ogg's eyesight. His sight improved. His eye doctor said he saw better than it was possible for him to see. "There is no way to explain medically how he does it ... his photographs tell us something about the magnificence of man."

His inspiring story is a testament to human courage and hope.