...of our latest issue of Her Times magazine (published on Sunday)? Please send any comments to me at heather.cass@timesnews.com or to hertimes@timesnews.com! We're always eager for freeback.

We're making the most of our at-home vacation and visiting Erie attractions like tourists. I found out my husband had never been to the top of the Bicentennial Tower, so that was a definite "must-do." We went tonight because I was under the mistaken impression that Tuesdays were free at the tower (old information on the Web site...because now it is the first Sunday of the month). But, we were there and the kids were set on going up the tower, so we shelled out our $6 and took a ride to the top.

The view was worth our $6 -- There's so much to look at -- Presque Isle, the factory way over there (is that GE?), the water tower in the horizon (is that the one by our house?), the people driving and walking around down below (is that Aunt Mary?), the construction of the convention center and hotel .... I could've stood up there and gawked all night, but the girls were quickly bored with the view and, frankly, Lauren was making me nervous sticking her little foot under the guard rail.

After our tower adventure, we went down to watch some people on the dock feeding the geese until we became convinced one -- or both -- of the girls was going to end up in the bay. We watched a guy fishing. Lauren wanted to know what was taking him so long to catch a fish. I told her it took patience. She asked was patience was. Hmmmmm....how to explain patience.

It's just one of a few difficult things I've had to explain to them in the last few days. Why do all the hard questions come at once -- and in public -- like when we saw a bunch of Amish at the zoo on Saturday. "Mommy, where are they going? Why they look like that?" There I was trying to explain the Amish. Hmmmmm.... I said something about them choosing to live a different lifestyle than us and that it was OK and they were people just like us and ... . Lauren said, "What a lifestyle?" (Oh, forget it!).

Last night, after we went to the Erie Runners Club meeting at the peninsula, we went over to the beach side to watch the sunset. I, of course, had to explain where the sun goes, why the earth rotates and that the moon is always there (and that it's not following just us).

Tomorrow -- weather-providing -- is a beach day!

We want you to be a part of the next issue of Her Times (August 12).

Here are a few ways you can participate:

Up to your ears in zucchini and tomatoes?
Probably not yet, but come Aug. 12 our readers will be and they need your best recipes for dealing with their garden's bounty. Do you have a tastiest zucchini and/or tomato recipe that you'd be willing to share with our reader? Send it to heather.cass@timesnews.com. Be sure to include your full name so we can give you credit! Hurry..deadline to send in a recipe is June 27!

Know any good Erie men?
Her Times would like to pay homage to the good guys in the Erie area and we need you to tell us who they are. We're looking for men who have helped advance women and/or women's causes or who have done something remarkable to help children in our area. You can nominate any good guy you know -- your husband, your co-worker, your brother or just someone that you think deserves more credit. We know that Erie is filled with great guys -- tell us about them! Click on Download file to download a Good Guy Nomination Form. Hurry...deadline to nominate a guy for the August issue is June 27!

Lots of great story ideas and a line-up of themes for each issue of Her Times magazine in 2008.

Her Times magazine is produced, primarily by three ETN staffers -- myself, my boss, Marnie Mead Oberle and our designer, Holly Waychoff. But, we have a bevy of local freelancers who write for the magazine and lend their creative talent and ideas to the publication.

Once a year, we host a big meeting and invite all the freelancers to sit around in a room and help us pick themes for the magazine for the following year. It's always a wonderful experience to get so many creative, dynamic people in one room.

Here are a few photos from our meeting earlier this week:

From left to right: Dianna Noe, Pam Parker and Chris Pennsy.

Monica Lewis, Amanda Burlingham, Fiona Branton (our new fitness writer), Amy West and Josh West.

Valerie Weaver, Gennifer Biggs, Marnie Mead Oberle, Monica Lewis (who we are pretty sure is NOT asleep here), Amanda Burlingham.

The themes we chose are deliberately vague and open ended so that they can be interpreted in many ways and applied to a cross-section of stories covering everything from hair and makeup to relationships to home interiors.

The themes we chose for 2008 are (drum roll please):

"Baggage"
"Retro -- Everything Old is New Again"
"Women in the Driver's Seat"
"What's Fair?"
"Taking a Stand"
"Party Time"

The December issue of Her Times magazine publishes this Sunday, Dec. 16. Be sure to look for it in your newspaper.

The theme is "Time to Escape" and we'll be giving you lots of great stories and exit strategies including:

* Ten great escapes from the kids
* Your options for a period-free life
* Escaping into the moment
* Traveling at Christmas

And (as always) much, much more!

We've got a new feature in Her Times called "Girlfriends" where we publish pictures of girlfriends having fun.

Do you have a great photo (I know you do!) of you and your girlfriends (or sisters or moms & daughters) from a recent get-together? Send us the photo! Be sure to identify everyone in the picture and give us some information about the photo to write the caption (what are you doing? why? how long have you been friends? things like that).

We're game for almost anything -- so send me your favorite pix of you & your pals (relatives count, too).

The latest issue of Her Times magazine publishes Sunday, April 13.

Our theme in this issue is "Retro: Everything Old is New Again" and we'll taking a look back at everything from vintage fashion to old-fashioned desserts to the return of the Rubik's Cube.

Be sure to get your copy in your Sunday Erie Times-News and go back (waaaayyyy back) with us!

Be sure to look for the June issue of Her Times magazine -- in your Erie Times-News this Sunday, June 8!

Theme is: "Women in the Driver's Seat" and, as always, the magazine is chocked full of great stories that are fun, informative and all local.