Recounts in an amusing style that a colleague of the author has served as his "muse" by sending him materials on reading instruction that might be of interest, and that she often was not amused at how he used her input in his columns. (SKC)

Claims that reading research and reading instruction have come no closer to each other than they ever were because the two sides have trouble communicating. Postulates that the work of teacher-researchers like Mary Heller might help link theory to practice. (SKC)

Discusses an article by Tom Barone, "A Narrative of Enhanced Professionalism: Educational Researchers and Popular Storybooks about Schoolpeople," which challenges educational researchers to work toward changing the public's generally negative conception of schools and schooling by creating compelling narratives about schoolpeople. (SR)