we're back now with more of "today" on a tuesday morning, 20th of april, 2010. temperature's supposed to hit somewhere close to 70 degrees today. love that. the chance to say hi to the nice folks outside. thank them for stopping by. i'm matt lauer, along with al roker and natalie morales. up next, the latest on that icelandic volcano that's stranded flights all over the world. some flights are flying again in europe, but in the uk planes are

grounded by a second cloud of volcanic ash. we'll get details on that in a couple of minutes. this story just keeps going and going. also ahead, joy's diet s.o.s. with all sorts of product claims and advertisements, joy bauer is here to answer your question, this morning she'll take on what water does to you, does it have to be carbonated, not carbonated, and the truth about calcium supplements. plus coping with chronic pain. 43 million americans suffer with pain. it is the dismal reality from stiff legs to bad backs. whether you choose to tough it out or go from specialist to specialist, we'll give you suggestions that could provide much-needed relief. but first let's get a check of the top stories from ann standing by at news desk. good morning, everybody. in the news, volcanic ash from iceland is causing more travel chaos in europe. even as some flights are resuming. nbc's dawna friesen joins us now from london's heathrow airport with more on this story. dawna, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, ann. there was so much hope yesterday

that the ash was clearing, a that europe's airports could reopen. some have today but not heathrow. with this second cloud of ash already approaching again this morning, airports in glasgow and belfast which had opened are now closed. it looks like most of london's airports will remain closed for a sixth day. as europe began to emerge from the first volcanic cloud, limited air traffic resumed giving hope to millions of travelers stranded around the world. these folks boarded a flight from frankfurt. >> i am so happy to get out of here. >> reporter: airports in paris re-opened for a few flights this morning but the relief at the prospecs f specspect of getting tempered with a little anxiety. >> i'm a little afraid. i'm hopeful that the plane will take off and that it won't meet with any volcanic ash. >> reporter: there are confusing

messages about how safe the skies are, how much volcanic ash is too much to allow planes to fly. some have questioned whether the restrictions are an overreaction. european authorities are adamant they are not. a handful of flights left asian air hubs today for europe. spain has volunteered to be an emergency hub for overseas travelers trying to get home. organizing extra buses, trains and ferries to handle an expected rush of passengers. a british navy ship has arrived in spain to give soldiers a lift home. they were stranded after finishing their tour of duty in afghanistan. two other navy ships are on their way to pick up marooned tourists. for families like the harmans, stuck in paris last night en route home to st. louis, their european vacation has doubled in price because of the delays. they made it to london overnight. >> you have to find a silver lining or you just sit down and cry. >> reporter: an adventure, yes, but one they wish would come to an end. >> i'm nat happy.

i'd rather be back making up on my school. >> reporter: the embassy in london has set up a 24-hour crisis line and is prepared to help. >> we're able to provide under emergency situations small loans to individual or families if it becomes a serious event where they're out of funds. >> reporter: with no one sure when the skies will completely clear, the costs continue to mount. what happens next really depends on the second cloud of ash, how far south it moves. it is being closely monitored. airlines' schedules are changing all the time so the best advice to travelers is really to check with your airline before you head to the airports. ann? >> dawna freeze thn morniniesen thanks. the space shuttle "discovery" returns to earth this morning after a 15-day mission at international space station. this morning a high-ranking al qaeda leader was killed on monday. iraq's prime minister announced two other key figures died in a

weekend raid, a development the u.s. calls a potentially devastating blow to al qaeda in iraq. toyota is recalling thousands of 2010 electric lexu. that's the vehicle "consumer reports" issued a safety warning about last week. the white house says president obama will deliver the eulogy at a memorial service on sunday for those 29 miners who died this month in west virginia. dorothy height, a key 1960s civil rights activist, died this morning. she was the matriarch of the civil rights movement working alongside reverend martin luther king jr. and others. speaking with nbc news, she answered a question about her message for young people. >> people are struggling for jobs and freedom. we're going to have to make the laws work. >> and when that day comes? >> and when that day comes, we'll be able to say as dr. king

said, we're free at last. >> dorothy height was 98 years old. it is now 9:05. now let's get another check of the weather from al. >> what a tremendous lady. let's show you what's going on as far as your western's concerned. jet stream band of air 20,000 feet above the earth's surface, still coming across iceland, across the atlantic and into the uk and much of europe. good news is by saturday, it takes more of a west-to-east flow, hopefully helping cut off the ash flow going into europe. rest of the country, wet weather along the west coast. sunshine in the northeast. sunny skies in the plain. >> good morning, we are off to a quiet start of this tuesday for the clouds will thicken up as we headed to this afternoon. the temperature will be nice and we expect a high in the upper

>>. now "joy's diet s.o.s." from the pros and cons of carbonated water, "today" nutritionist joy bauer is here with the answers to your questions. first, we have a question from kristin, coming to us on skin from michigan. what's your question for joy? >> i've become a big fan of the carbonated water drinks that are on the maeshtrket. they're often naturally fruit flavored but they don't contain any sugar or artificial sweeteners. it's great to help me cut back on my soft drink intake. i'm just wondering, are there

any health risks associated with drinking too much carbonated water? >> there are no negative effects from the naturally flavored zero calorie celseltzera. there are no artificial sweeteners and no added sugar. people think because there is a higher acidity level they're bad for your teeth and bones. the truth is when you add carbonation it does slightly bump the acidity level up but not to the extent that it hurts your teeth or your bones. you need to know that they are way, way lower in acidity than the diet sodas or regular sodas because those sodas have added acids, things like phosphoric acid and sit tricitric acid. they don't have added salt. the only reason to avoid these carbonated beverages is if you have a lot of gas. sometimes you belch or you toot

or you trap a lot of gas pockets within your body which can be excruciating. then lay off. but carbonated beverages in general can sometimes exacerbate reflux, that burning sensation in your esophagus. in that case, lay off it. but otherwise, enjoy them. it is a super beverage. >> we hope that helps. now let's get a call in from ann in newton, massachusetts. ann, good morning. what's your question? >> hi, anne. >> hi. i love et mdamame and i use it lot in recipes like stir fries. does it count as a veggie or a protein? >> it actually counts as both. because it literally contains both. it is a vegetable and it is a protein. edamame -- for shurs that don't know what it is, edamame are soybeans. it is one of the healthiest foods on the planet. it has a balance of high-quality

carbohydrates, plus fiber. it's got protein, it has this omega-3 fat. and a slew of vitamins and minerals. you can count it as the main protein portion of your meal whether you put it in soups or stews or in stir fries, or you can count it as a side vegetable. the thing to know if you count is as a side vaegetable, it is starchier and has more calories than sugar snap peas or broccoli or cauliflower. so pull back on the other side starch meal like pasta. you can either get it in the pods or out of the pods. boils up in about four minutes. the best part for parents is that kids love it. >> in fact, i bake them sometimes. it makes them crunchy. >> yeah, can you buy them roasted as well. when you boil them up, it almost has a lima bean like consistency. but very delicious. nutritionally you can treat them

like starchy beans. >> now an e-mail from jean in simi valley, california. i like milk and cheese but it doesn't like me. i'm lactose intolerant so getting in four daily servings of dairy is a challenge especially since i don't like lactaid and soy milks. will daily calcium supplements suffice? >> definitely. if you can't get enough calcium from dietary sources, supplements with a terrific substitute. the thing that you need to know is you want to take about 1,000 milligrams if that's where you're getting all of your calcium from. you have to split up the dosage to the bestabsorbability. take 500 milligrams with or after lunch, then a second hint of 500 milligrams with or after dinner, because when you have it with or after a meal you get a better absorption rate as well. an important thing to know when you are buying a calcium suppleme supplement, make sure it come o couples with vitamin d.

vitamin d allows calcium to do its job. >> are there other things instead of taking supplements, are there other foods that are more calcium-rich that you can add to this? >> definitely. never give up on the food sources. you can always look lactaid milk or soy milk. there's also calcium fortified almond milk and rice milk. some of the cheeses like cheddar cheese and swiss cheese are very low lactose and you can enjoy them as well. beans, starchy beans, edamame has a nice amount of calcium. some of the greens, kol yacolli greens. for the greens you really want the colliard greens, kale and almon almonds. >> i read something somewhere that says it is better for you to soak your almonds, things like that in water before you eat them?

what's that about? >> nothing. you don't really need to do that. you can eat almonds in their natural state, soak them, lightly soeft them. however you enjoy them. the calcium is there. it is not a huge hit. you're going to get a much bigger hit from the calcium fortified almond milk and rice milk and of course the dairy sources. >> we'll go out to the crowd right now. we've got a question from camile from maine. what's your question? >> can you suggest foods that would help boost metabolism? >> sadly, not really. the bottom line with boosting your metabolism is that you want to eat throughout the day every four to five hours. you definitely want to include protein with each of your meals because protein can slightly rev your metabolism. the best thing i can tell you is, strength training. lightweight training two to three times a week. if you build up your muscles, you're going to boost your

metabolism 24/7. >> there you go. >> thank you. >> joy practices what she preaches. look at those guns. wow! man! i'm afraid of you. >> as you should be, al. joy bauer, thank you so much. next, is your pain medication actually hurting you? the common mistakes people make in managing pain. go green with your wardrobe. we'll show you how to be ecosmart in style. l haven't tried activia? listen to this story.

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and eating well means getting enough whole grain and calcium. and general mills big g kid cereals can help. did you know it's the only leading line of kid cereals with at least 8 grams of whole grain and a good source of calcium? cereals they already love, like lucky charms and cinnamon toast crunch. give your kids more of what they need to be their best. grow up strong. with big g kid cereals. ♪ this morning on "today's health," how to deal with chronic pain. more than 43 million americans report living with some sort of chronic pain with no relief in sight. courtney smith is the executive editor of prevention magazine and she's here to talk about the five common mistakes and five solutions to help ease your pain. courtney, good morning. >> good morning. >> i know that chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts abou -- at least three months

or more. but a lot of people aren't really treating their chronic pain. right? or it goes sort of -- they think that they can treat it on their own and do the over-the-counter thing. >> yes. but the new thinking is that chronic pain is a disease, not a symptom. you really need a comprehensive program that may include medication, lifestyle changes, natural therapies, and you want to consider your goal. because eliminating your pain may not be possible, but you should get enough relief so you can do the things you love. that is realistic. >> there is no magic bullet necessarily or no cure-all. >> there isn't. you'll have to try different things to see what works. it may take time but you will get better. >> talk about the mistakes a lot of people are making when it comes to dealing with the chronic pain, the first being, as i mentioned, they feel that they can just tough it out. many think just give it a little bit of time, this, too, shall pass. when do you really need to go to the doctor? >> it is okay to wait for four weeks. but after that, you should see

your doctor if you're still in pain. most injuries will resolve themselves after about a month. the longer you wait, the more havoc you're wreaking on your body and mind because your muscles weaken, your joints stiffen and the most surprising thing is that your brain literally shrinkses under the stress of chronic pain. you'll be less likely to be able to cope. so don't wait longer than four weeks. >> mistakes number two then, once you are going to the doctor, a lot of people decide to go see lots of doctors, doctor hopping. why is that not a good idea? when you really are in the market of finding that person who is going to be just right for you. >> if you see different specialists, you may get different tests, get conflicting diagnoses and it may be hard to sort out yourself, so you want one doctor to follow you through the process and help you put it in perspective. for most of us, that's our primary care doctor.

even if that person is not trained in pain specifically, they should take your pain seriously, give you a comprehensive program where you're trying different things, and the most important thing is see him frequently enough so they're really evaluating that's working, stick with that, that's not working, let's try something else. you will probably have to tweak the routine to find what works for you. >> exercise is a great way to keep the body healthy but a lot of people when they're suffering from chronic pain, it is probably the last thing they're thinking of doing. you say that's a big mistake. >> it is a mistake. you don't want to become sedentary because exercise heals pain on every level. it strengthens the muscles, oils the joints, it fights imfla m s inflammation that comes with gout and rheumatoid arthritis and it raises endorphins. the instinct is to sit still but you want to pursue low-impact

exercise that keeps you moving, keeps you functional. that can be a ten-minute walk, swimming, aquatica aerobics. >> people think surgery will be the cure-all. not the case. >> it sounds like a quick fis but the evidence on the effectiveness of surgery is mixed. also watch for risk of infection, nerve damage. that can actually worsen pain. the advice is exhaust non-invasive remedies. medicine, natural remedies, alternative therapies. >> that's the other thing you say to explore. >> yes. people try them on their own but bring them to your doctor, fold them into your routine. there are well studied remedies li acupuncture, omega-3 fatty acids. >> courtney smith, thank you so much. we'll be back with more of "today" right after this.

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get answers about annuities at metlife.com. to finish what you started today. for the aches and sleeplessness in between, there's new motrin pm. no other medicine, not even advil pm, is more effective for pain and sleeplessness. new motrin pm. coming up, going green in

style. how to keep up with the trends and be ecofriendly all at the same time. plus, shaken or stirred in colin cowie will show you how to mix up some spring cocktails. water daily. embrace the pure life. nestlé pure life. our chefs learn secrets cookinof italian cooking., like how to blend four artisanal cheeses to create our new creamy fonduta sauce. in our new steak fonduta and grilled chicken fonduta. at olive garden. ♪ music plays ♪ [ sneezing ] ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] what are you gonna miss when you have an allergy attack? benadryl® is more effective than claritin® at relieving your worst symptoms --

runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes -- and works when you need it most. benadryl®. you can't pause life. >> live, local, late breaking, this is a tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> it is 9:26. here is a look at some top stories for a local coaches charged with sexual police -- sexual abuse. he is accused of molesting one of his sons of the now press for the police 79-year-old girl told about the abuse after being shown a video on molestation after school. police are looking at his role as a soccer coach and assistant at st. ursula's school. >> our concern is that there may have been other children who could have been molested at any of these times per

unfortunately, the timespan appears to be about 10 years. >> according to a spokesperson, he underwent a background check before he was hired. anne arundel county police are searching for the young man who entered a home and stabbed three people. the 21-year-old is accused of storming into the home in the. , stabbing "man and a woman. he is considered armed and dangerous. now let's take a look at your forecast. >> good morning. it looks like a nice day. a little bit on the cool side this point but this afternoon, we will make it to the upper 60's. that is slightly above average and the clouds will thicken up. we do not expect any precipitation. rain will start late tonight after midnight and tomorrow, off and on rain showers for wednesday. temperatures will be cooler and expect a high of only 63

tomorrow. another system comes in for the beginning of the weekend with a good chance of rain starting late friday and into saturday with high temperatures in the low 60's. >> thank you for joining us. we'll have another update at 9:55.

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because social security disability law is all that we do. that's all i'm saying. because i don't want the same thing that happened to me to happen to you. i can get over the work you're working with hrodney. one of these days, me and rodney will be cool. >> that's singer/actress brandy in her new reality show, "family busy." her mom, dad and brother ray jay who has a bad-boy image he's trying to turn are all in the business together. as you can see, all is not harmonio harmonious. we'll talk to brandy about the family drama tomorrow on "today." >> you can call me ray, or you can call me jay.

meantime, i'm supposed to mention we had a little fun a few moments ago. when we're in commercial sometimes, we just have time to fill. >> it's like a dance party gone wrong. >> we were loving the bobby darren. >> "mac the knife." >> we are always caught by the people inside the control room. >> jay's always rolling tapes. coming up on "today," jill martin is back with fun finds. she'll show us how easy it is to go green and -- >> a few moments ago, she goes, ann, in the shopping cart there are groceries. i never have groceries in my house! jill, are we embarrassing you? >> no. i mean, i understand. truth be told. >> this is a woman who uses herher oven to store sweaters in.

>> but, she does know how to go green. she knows about fashion. >> i'll tell you all about the shopping part. anyway, nothing says spring more than a fabulous cocktail party. today we'll check out some great beverage ideas from collin could youie to line of up our next soiree. >> i can't wait. also, we're up to round three in our search for "today's top dog." we need to know who you think deserves to be a finalist. first up again, brandi from bedford, texas. she takes fetch to a whole new level. she dives into that nine-foot deep pool to retrieve a stick. then picasso from middle village, new york, who loves singing and knows how to hit those high notes. "amazing grace," his favorite.

emma works for treats but she still has a lot of tricks up her sleeve. >> it is up to you to decide which of these three makes it to the final round. voting ends at noon eastern time thursday and for all of you who still want to enter, we're taking submissions until this friday, april 23rd. let's get a check of the weather, shall we? >> ohit-or-miss thunderstorms down in florida. sunny skies through texas. hot there tomorrow. mild weather all the way up into the great lakes from the gulf coast. showers northern new england and that messy western weather makes

>> beclouds will thicken up but we expect a high in the upper >> and that's your latest weather. coming up next, from the wine you drink to plant friendly hair care, jill martin's here to show us ways to go green in style right after these messages. ♪ spread a little joy and see ♪ need a little happiness to be ♪ ♪ living the life with me philadelphia cream cheese and i are looking for the next big cooking stars! four y'all will get $25,000 each. so send in those cooking videos. go to the real women of philadelphia on pauladeen.com

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some people will stick with their old way of getting vitamins and minerals. others will try incredible total raisin bran. with 100% of the daily value of 11 essential vitamins and minerals, juicy raisins and crunchy whole grain flakes. guess it's all about what kind of crunch you like. how are you getting 100%? >> announcer: "today goes green" is brought to you by walmart. save money. live better. walmart. this morning on "today goes

green," hip and trendy ecofriendly items. you can be kinder to the planet without sacrificing style. jill martin is a center to both "today" and "us weekly." let's start off with this casual but ecolook. >> a lot of people love groovy jeans. that's are actually organic cotton. they are available at all price points. a great way to be stylish and give back. feel like. >> now you've got wine in hand because we're actually toasting but in a very organic and ecofriendly kind of way. >> this is $13 to $45. benterra.com. the grapes are grown organically. >> sustainable farming. >> pest control, natural pest control. >> it is a very good wine, i might add. over here to the shopping cart that you made fun of, because

you never do this. >> if i did go food shopping, i would use this. the creator of this company, this is interesting. her father -- >> these are recyclable bags. >> her father invented the plastic bag and presented them to the grocery stores back in 1977. >> how interesting. >> she's sort of righting his wrong. g getmyeco.com. one's insulated for frozen foods. $24.95, also available at the container store. maybe this will teach me to shop. >> you keep these in your car, you may actually bring them in. >> or your purse because they're so compact. >> a lot of us are sort of giving up other leather handbags and starting to use these totes a little bit more. right? >> look how cool these are. 20% plastic bottle material recycled. 80% recycled cotton. this is a great way to go

shopping and still stay stylish. >> wonderful. let's move over to the world of beauty and even the beauty market is taking on an ecofriendly look. >> i used to be a tire. this is actually a tire shopping bag. $18. this is also a great way -- isn't this hysterical? >> hair products. not only is the product made in a natural way -- right? >> natural ingredients but also the bottles are recyclable. this is great. love, peace and planet. $18 to $22. >> when you're done with the product, you can recycle them get again. >> yes. >> work outclothes, even underwear? >> they use water bottles that you actually drink when you exercise, and they're recycled. these are great sports bras. >> they look cool, too. >> organic cotton. we all love hanky-panky. these are all organic, $20.

>> the art of writing. >> recycled newspapers. teach your children with these because they're colored. >> they're beautiful, too. >> we always say what do you get a guy for a gift? who has everything. >> but maybe loves sports. >> these are from ballpark stadium seats. recycled into pencs. fenway park. these are pricey but just a great way to give back. >> very nice. what is this? staples? >> staple-free stapler. look what it does. it actually folds the paper instead of using staples, which i love. >> great idea. thank you cards. >> this is be green love natalie we made for you.

tan tangyprints.com. this is a great recipe, renaissancelife.com, all made with products that are grown locally. you can make these. these are buckwheat pancakes. how are they? >> wonderful! very healthy. good! excellent. jill martin, thank you so much. >> i'm going food shopping now. >> take the totes. still to come this morning, bottoms-up. we'll sip spring cocktails, mixing them up with colin cowie. but first, these messages. for a ride that's jet-smooth! it's got reclining rear seats! and such a quiet cabin! ♪ bluetooth wireless audio makes every trip a delight! ♪ the new toyota avalon... comfort is back. ♪

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seen set in the outskirts of uragu uraguay? >> have some red wine. >> too much for me. i'm a bit of a lightweight, i'm afraid. >> bring me a cup of red wine that smells of musk. >> bring me that expensive stuff. >> the young american scholar met wally whose plans for a biography are rebuffed by his widow, laura linney. >> he said it was like having one's corpse publicly exhumed. >> he shows up uninvited at her state in uruguay.

>> that's why i'm here. >> she's infuriated by his chutzpah. he enters a house divided. how to handle this intruder. help them or heave them? >> once these people, these biographers, turn against you, they can become quite vicious. >> opinions flair, the story expands into romance, a crucial bee sting, a venetian gondola, a wife and a mistress under the same roof. >> you've changed your mind about the biography. >> six characters searching for a way out. >> why shouldn't he write the biography? >> the city of your final destination is a compelling family entanglement performed with real distinction. >> is it legal? >> no, it's moral. >> and that's the "critic's corner" for "today." you go your way and i'll go mine. >> sounds like fun. coming up next, cocktails to

ring in spring. coming up next, cocktails to ring in spring. fun ideas for drinks from >> yes some things get better the more they get together. mmmm... velveeta shells and cheese. the best side of dinner.

this morning on "today's home," spring entertaining. warmer weather's on the way. it is time to host a gathering of friends to toast in the season with some refreshing cocktails. we have lifestyle expert colin cowie with fun ways to spruce up and spice up our next get-together. we have some able helpers here. >> 100 cocktails from around the world but let's start in england. >> why not? they have something called the skins cup. it looks like a salad in a cup. >> early 19th century. a gin-based drink. very refreshing. made with cucumber segments.

you get to make this in a pitcher in advance. if you want it more peppery, top it off with a little bit of ginger beer. >> so it is mostly rum and sprite and -- >> gin-based drink. >> gin-based. >> here we go. >> very refreshing. i like this on sunday just before lunch. >> and somewhere it is sunday right about now. >> or monday through friday. >> it's really refreshing. you're absolutely right. a little bubble to it. >> exactly. >> but that's not all you brought. >> we're going to go to brazil. >> these are my people. >> this is the drink of your people. you've been teaching me. >> i have had a few of these. >> let's start by muddling. limes, some ginger -- >> you're making a different variation with the ginger. >> ginger, coconut and lime. first thing you want to do,

muddle all these flavors in here. you make one, too. >> okay. >> get going! >> the muddling allows it to all break the cells down so the juices all come out. add to that two tablespoons of agave. and i love this coconut water. it's kind of like nature's gatorade. there's more potassium in here than a bunch of bananas. >> i drink it daily. depending how strong you like them -- i actually like mine a little stronger. >> go for it. >> it's 6:00 somewhere, darling. >> what is this again you just poured in? >> kashotka. it is wonderful. it is like the new tequila. it will jump-start any party.

great thing, the garnish is in the drink. >> thank you. >> take the muddler out. the good thing is to get a really good shake so it gets nice and cold. >> it's a party! >> there we go. >> i found these fun green glasses. the great thing about the ginger drink, the garnish comes with the drink. >> ooh, that's really good. >> so good. >> we've got a nice little display here. >> if you find that you are entertaining larger group of people, put this beer and rose buffet together. i found this ice cooler at fun gate. we have an interesting variety of different beers. i like to garnish beer with different types of garnish.

sometimes i like to take the corona and either put a sliver of ginger right into there and drink it right out of the model -- >> this even looks cool. doesn't it? >> if you like it spicy, take a jalapeno chili. the longer you leave it in there, the more chili it becomes. and this of course with the orange segment. of course, my favorite rose. right here we have this. >> come to our house and organize our parties. >> all this booze, i'm surprising kathie lee didn't show up. >> they're right behind us.

ax live, local, late breaking, this is wbal tv 11 news in baltimore. >> anne arundel county police are searching for the young man who allegedly entered a home and stabbed three people. the 21-year-old is accused of storming into the home. he stabbed two men and a woman. police have not released the name of a second suspect.

he is considered armed and dangerous.

quacks it looks like a -- >> and it looks like a nice day today but clouds will thicken up this afternoon. we should stay dry and the temperatures will be in the upper 60's.

there's a chance of rain showers wednesday, off and on and that will cool things off to the lower 60's. we will have a rate for the weekend. >> thank you for joining us.