Using the TODAY function in an IF - THEN type formula

I've been going crazy trying to figure out the correct way to write a formula for the following situation:

I've created a spreadsheet that helps me keep track of all my open, pending and completed calls regarding technical support for around 100 PC's in my office. There's a column for when the initial request for help was made (Date Entered let's call it A1) a Status column (G1) and a Last Updated Column.

Okay...a call comes in, I type the date in A1. I've got a formula in the Status column (G1) that looks like this
=IF(A1="","","Open") which says, "If A is blank, print nothing, otherwise, print the word "Open". This way I don't have to remember to fill in the Status column when I first enter a request for help.

The Last Updated column (J1) has a formula that looks like this: =IF(A1="","", A1) which simply puts whatever date I've entered for the initial call, but prints nothing if the column is blank.

I'd like to be able to create a formula for the Last Updated column that says, If the Status column contains the word OPEN, print the date in the Date Entered column (column A), if the Status column contains the word "COMPLETED" print the current date (04/03/01)

I thought I could do this with the TODAY( ) command but I keep getting error messages. If this makes ANY sense to anybody and you can decipher what I'm trying to do I'd REALLY like some help. The stupid little paperclip hasn't told me a damn thing. I'd like to bend him into the shape of a middle finger and send it to Bill.