The temperature in the East County has been hovering in the mid-90s this week. Maybe that's why my cold is almost gone, and I'm feeling really good. Of course, it's been about a week since I caught it, and as one of you pointed out, if you treat a cold, you can knock it out in about seven days, but if you leave it alone you'll have it for a week!

And apparently the heart thing isn't as bad as I feared. For one thing, there's been no more swelling, since I started laying off the salt, drinking plenty of water and spending less time on my feet (and your prayers have helped done their job). For another, the cardiologist can't test me for two weeks, but that didn't seem to bother the oncologist. So I guess it's nothing urgent.

Anyway, I'm still here, and managing to irritate everybody around me. So I guess I'm getting back to normal.

Something very nice happened this week. An article about me and my cancer battle appeared in the September edition of the Christian Examiner. I've already heard some very nice comments about it, and I've passed them along to the author, Lori Arnold.

I have to remind myself that in less than two weeks I'll have to relinquish my "role" as "patient" and "interviewee" to resume my role as "newscaster." I can hardly believe I'll be back to work that soon! And I can't wait! I noticed something today: I've gotten out of the habit of wearing a watch! That's something no one in my business could ever be without! I can see I'm going to have to make a lot of changes over the next 13 days. But I'm so happy that I got through this ordeal in one piece, and thrilled that my job is still waiting for me.

So now that I've been saved from this disease, and allowed to resume my career, I have a big responsibility to God. It's articulated in Ephesians 5:15: "Be careful how you live -- not unwisely, but wisely -- making the most of every opportunity. Do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." The Romans had a non-religious term for it. Carpe Diem. Seize the Day.

On another note, many of you have written asking me to update the "Pappy Puppies." Well here are two recent pictures, which you can compare to the ones from my July 16 journal entry, when they were one-day-old.

They are now almost seven weeks! Ben -- the one with the brown spots -- is shown with his mom, Dixie; and he's wider than she! Ben is spoken for, and could go to his new home this weekend (pictured, above).

Jerry is shown with his dad, Diego, who weighs about 10 pounds. Still, Jerry is big enough to give him a run for his money, playing tug-of-war with the Beanie Baby. We haven't found a buyer for Jerry yet, but we know a special one is out there (pictured, right).

Next time, I'll tell you about two things which have brought me special joy this summer. No, not Ben and Jerry. Rosie's quilts, and a Web site called, CarePages.com.

-Bill