da. >> da. that's all you speak? is that it? >> that's it. >> would you do me a favor and send it back to savannah in new york in russian? >> we'll take it. thanks, guys. >>> meanwhile, who do we have here? the u.s. hockey team members they're ready to play, all they've got to do now is get to sochi. a reenergized team, usa is looking to sochi with the eyes on the gold. guys, good morning to you. >> good morning. >> ryan, you're the veteran of the team. you came so close in vancouver. how do you like your chances this time around? >> i like it. we have a lot of guys coming back from that silver medal team. and we were a little disappointed losing the way we did. but we have a good chance and excited to go to sochi and win gold. >> and derrick, what's it like putting that usa jersey on and getting ready to head out? >> it's a tremendous honor. super exciting. find myself pretty lucky to represent my country. and, you know, it's pretty cool to be able to do it with a couple teammates, as well. >> and ryan m., ryan in the middle. you guys are teammates with the rangers. does that give you an advantage or a flow together? >> i think it helps, the circumstances, going so far away from home. being able to relax with people you've been around for a while. and these two are forwards and play a little bit together. if they're on the ice together, that helps. >> i love the understatement from the hockey players. i watch you guys, you bring it, and you're like, it's cool. >> and how long do you get to practice as this olympic team before you're out there competing? >> yeah. actually, we got three days of practices and we're thrown on the ice. >> got it down. >> learn as you go. >> february 12th, is that right? >> yes. >> well, good luck to you. we'll see you in sochi. >> go for gold! >>> all right. now for more on team usa, let's go back out to sochi and matt. >> not only will the men's hockey competition be intense, but so will the women's competition. we have megan duggan and ladies, good morning to you. got any advice? what are the men going to experience when they get to sochi? >> everything's ready and waiting for them to get here. >> you've had a good time so far? >> excellent. >> ladies, you're twins. everybody says twins know what the other is thinking. you skate on the same line when you play. does that give you an advantage? >> i think so. megan's our line mate right now and i think we communicate really well. maybe sometimes too much. but, yeah, i think growing up together and playing together has always helped. >> we've covered a lot of olympics and winter olympics. they say the figure skating is the glamour sport of the olympics. i think ice hockey is. it's the most intense competition i see every time we go to the winter games. how do you describe the passion? first of all, that they have here in russia. talk about canada and the united states. >> well, the olympics, that's the biggest stage we get to play on. we train all four years for this tournament. and this is a stage that we want to play on, that we dream about playing on. so you can't -- you're not going to get anything but the best from all the teams here. >> and i want to say that the russians when you talk to them here, they are absolutely determined to win two gold medals. do you think you can perhaps break their hearts a little bit? >> that's a plan, i think. we've been preparing ourselves in every which way we can on the ice, off the ice, mentally, physically, everything we can do to come here and take away a gold medal for our country back in the u.s. >> well, we wish you well. we love the jackets, by the way. those are very cool. team usa, women's ice hockey, good luck. >> thank you. >> back to new york and al. >> thank you so much. talk about ice. it is a mess out there. in fact, new york state's governor cuomo has closed i-84 to all vehicles. and here's the problem, you've got this line of blue. this is basically what we call the 340 line, anything north of that is below freezing, below it and close to it, it's at freezing. so you get that icy mix right there. it's going to be a mess. you look brooklyn right now. roads -- look at -- this is the fdr. now, normally at this time, this thing would be packed, people have decided to stay home and just call it a day because it is rough out there. rain to the south and so we've got some fog in the southeast. it's chilly up in the -- up into seattle. 34 degrees and partly cloudy. . >>> 8:38 on a wednesday morning, i'm christina loren. it will be a chilly day, similar temperatures to what we experienced in the last couple days. getting up to 59 in the north bay, and 57 in the east bay. rain on the way and a lot of it, we want to get right to showing you what we're expected. the first showers by about 3:30 p.m. 10:30 you see widespread rainfall heavy at times. the heaviest anticipated this time tomorrow morning. >> all right, al. thank you so much. we want to follow up on today's wishing well. great stories brought to you earlier in the week. and a chance for our viewers to help pay it forward. on monday, we introduced you to lasunias. when her daughter took her to see the broadway musical for christmas, she burst into tears, cried all night. had only enough money for one ticket and not the airfare to get there, mom to new york. when we heard this story, we knew we had to put this one in our wishing well. and no surprise, our incredible viewers responded with hundreds of offers and ideas. >> all right. so without further adieu, let's check in with her and her daughters. hi, ladies. >> good morning. >> we meet again. i have to ask, how has your life changed in the last two days? have you been hearing from a lot of people? >> yes, i have. a lot of long lost friends, family members, et cetera. >> well, that's so sweet. so we have a lot of generous offers and people who wrote us. but first, your heart has to be racing. you know we brought you here today for something big. you know this, right? is your heart racing? is it pounding? girls, are you nervous? are you excited, girls? >> yes, i am. i am. >> what are you going to do? all right. >> stretch it out a little bit longer. >> we'll tell you what some people offered some ideas. first up -- >> first up, so we're opening up the hearts and homes as we know. marching band director bryce from ohio said that they would send their entire band into action and would raise the money, the band is raising the money for your trip. also, meredith in new jersey. >> these are just ideas. >> ideas. we got these offers. >> meredith in new jersey says she wanted to open up her home to you and your family. but we've got some other great ideas that came through, as well. >> yeah. we're telling you about what viewers wrote. flight attendant said she would give you her buddy pass. however, we are -- and we just wanted to say, we have the best viewers who really wanted to help. but we've got a plan for you. >> yes. >> first of all, as i understand it, ladies, you got a $20 gift certificate to southwest airlines to get you started on maybe getting an airfare, right? >> correct. >> well, you can use that for snacks because southwest has agreed to fly you and your daughters to new york so you can come see the musical. but that's not all. okay. that's not all. >> that's enough for them. >> that's a start. >> because you're going to also be in the heart of time square at the residence inn and you're staying through the weekend, ladies. you have plenty of time to see new york. and just in case you do get hungry, one of my favorites, b. smith. i'll tell you what's on the menu later when i call you, but we'll have dinner at b. smith, treated like a real v.i.p. >> and -- let me ask you a question. you're all ladies here, what are you going to wear for the big night? >> oh, gosh. i'm still working on it. >> well, hold that thought because rent the runway has graciously offered to outfit all three of you ladies in some designer clothes. so you're going to love that. fabulous. and what you are really here to see, motown the musical, you're getting three v.i.p. and behind the scenes passes to see the musical here on broadway. and the cast is so excited to meet all of you. what do you say about that? >> oh, my gosh! >> oh, my lord! >> now, ladies, the show is a dancing show. people stand up in the aisles. i'll need you to practice your moves. you've got to represent. >> all right. >> there you go. >> all right. well, you guys going to come visit us while you're on this trip. by the way, icing on the cake, magnolia bakery, the cupcake place around here, they're going to give you cupcake decorating sessions, as well. >> and no visit to new york, ladies, would be complete without visiting us here at the "today" show. we're going to get to meet you three tomorrow morning. i know your bags are packed because i believe you already packed your mom's bags, right, girls? she's ready to go. >> i love it. >> the answer is the laughter. it's so cute. >> well, ladies, we're really excited. you're going to have so much fun. we can't wait to meet you. get ready, pack your bags and we'll see you in a little bit in new york. >> oh, my goodness. >> can't wait to meet you. >> thanks to our viewers. >> our viewers are awesome. >> offered these great ideas. >> i know it's cold outside, but that warms you up. >> so sweet. >> thanks to our viewers, that was awesome. >>> we'll take a turn, get an inside look at some of those celebrity homes that are opening their doors and letting us check them out. we'll have that story. and talk about a transformation, the winner of the latest season of "the biggest loser." "the biggest loser" joining us live. but first, this is "today" on nbc. nbc universal's coverage of the 2012 london games was the most watched television event ever. so, what's next? the upcoming winter games from sochi. where every second of nbc universal's coverage will be available on every device. on tv, online or streaming on the nbc sports live extra app. beginning february 6th, experience the winter games everywhere. welcome to what's next. comcast nbcuniversal ♪ >>> we are back at 8:46 with an exclusive look inside the homes of patrick dempsey, jane fonda, and john mellencamp. the editor in chief of "architectural digest." in the march celebrity homes issue on newsstands now. good morning to you. >> good morning. >> if only we were at patrick dempsey's house in malibu right now. it looks gorgeous. >> it is gorgeous. it's such a special house. >> it's a frank gary designed house, right? >> it is. he's one of the most -- the preeminent architects of our time. built it in the '60s as an artist studio, and the dempseys have turned it into a marvelous family home. >> they have kids. what kind of changes and adjustments to make it look the way it looks right now? >> well, the house is sort of a big, open loft. and the materials are really humble. it's reclaimed wood. what they really did to it was add on to the outside. >> they've got this 5-acre land. what a beautiful garden. >> beautiful garden, marvelous outside eating area and outdoor kitchen, a pizza oven. they have chickens, they have goats, they have donkeys. do i spot an airstream trailer? >> and an airstream trailer, as well. >> this is a ranch that kind of found jane fonda. >> it did. she got a real estate brochure in the mail, and she was looking at a ranch that was 2,300 acres, river running through it, boarded by park, she said this is what i'm going to do. >> she hand picked all the items in there. even a witch's bed. what does that mean? >> mirrors at the foot and at the head and it's supposed to protect you. >> oh, there's the witch's bed. and she's had some celebrity visitors. do they approve? >> she told us that robert redford was there and he thought it was 100 years old. that's a good thing. >> the highest compliment, right? has the feel of the antique look. >> exactly. >> john mellencamp, i've got to give a shout out because my friend monique gibson was the interior decorator here. >> it is such a great place. it's on an island right near savannah. and he was inspired by a church in south carolina. and you can see the arches in the fireplace and the windows on the porch. this is very moody house, very minimalist. really, really beautiful. >> it's a showstopper and you can only get there by boat? >> yeah. >> so you're not going to swing by unannounced, i guess. >> no, i don't think so. >> beautiful pictures, great story. thanks for bringing it to us. >> thank you. >>> coming up next, one of the few times that losing is good. we're going to talk to the new biggest loser. but first, this is "today" on nbc. >>> and we are back at 8:51 with a really big loser. and by loser, we mean winner. >> yeah. >> 24-year-old rachel frederickson crowned the latest biggest loser on the nbc show last night. losing an amazing 155 pounds. that's 60% off her starting body weight. rachel was going to be in studio with us this morning, but her flight was canceled because of the weather. >> yes. >> so rachel, congratulations. you look amazing. >> thank you so much. thank you. hi, everyone. >> you know, it's really -- you started at 260. can you believe where you have -- how far you've come? >> i can't believe it. it's been just such an amazing almost 7 1/2-month journey. i'm truly so grateful for the whole, whole experience. >> i was reading about your background. and you were a swimmer. you were a real athlete before you gained this weight. do you think that helps you in the competition? >> i think absolutely. i lost that athlete, lost that confidence. and, you know, coming back, i got that spark back. the athlete started to come out. and, you know, winning the challenges and then fighting for my spot in the finale and the triathlon. so to have that athlete come back was just an amazing, amazing feeling. >> yes. terrific. so what's next for you, rachel? clearly you won the grand prize of $250,000. what are you going to do with that? >> you know, i have this brand new life ahead of me. probably going to shop a little bit for new clothes. save it and just use it for something really special. it's going to be a great life. >> congratulations. >> a whole new life. >> thank you. >> whole new world. you look fabulous. congratulations to you. we send you our very, very best. >> thank you. thank you so much. >> and go back to bed. it's early there. >> i know. >> we're back -- >> stay warm. >> thank you. we're back in a moment. this is "today" on nbc. safeway presents real big deals of the week. or how to get great deals the easy way. you do enough flying around. that's why we give you real big club card deals. right now, our largest jug of arm & hammer detergent is just $5.00. fill your water supply. arrowhead water is only $3.29 a case. and chobani greek yogurt is just a buck. real big deals this week and every week. only at safeway. ingredients for life. good is in every blue diamond a good that comes in 25 flavors. from whole natural to wasabi and soy sauce. and once good gets going, there's no stopping it. get your good going. blue diamond. snack nut of u.s. snowboarding. >>> beautiful, beautiful day in the neighborhood. >> what do we have the next hour? >> helpful tips, especially when it comes to staying fit on the roads this winter. >> willie actually took a driving test. we'll see how he did. >>> plus, do you know the best month of the year for romance? this february, right? or to start construction on your home. all of that. >>> we'll look forward to that. and we'll get a check of your local news a >>> good morning, everyone. 8:56. i'm scott mcgrew. the city council will invest in smart meters downtown that will accept payments via sell phone, debit cards, credit cards, and coins. the council last night decided not to pass the costs on to consumers. >> good morning to you, scott. a lot of snowfall and rainfall on the way to the bay area. it all starts up as we head throughout tonight. grab the jacket, leave the umbrella at home tonight. for the first in a series of storms, we could be tallying up to three quarters of an inch of rain. >>> from nbc news, this is "today's take" with al roker, natalie morales, and willie geist live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> welcome to "today" on a wednesday morning, february 5th, 2014. happens to be happy weather person day. national weather person's day. >> you deserve a big hug because you've been working overtime and -- >> it's been busy. >> all kinds of shifts here. >> my meteorologist back in the weather office has been going nuts. but we've been having a lot of stuff going on. and we're going to check in with willie who is in sochi in a little bit. >> that's right. but let's talk about the storm again. here we are the double whammy. >> yeah. >> and it's been a horrible storm. once again, 20 million people affected across the country. >> just the commute. you look at everybody who is under a watch, a warning or advisory, it's 110 million people. >> is that right? >> yeah. >> almost 750,000 without power right now. 2,300 flights that have been canceled. schools across the northeast into the ohio river valley have been shut down with the exception of new york city. >> new york city. and al will let you know about it. >> mayor de blasio, shut those schools down. >> it's been rough getting around them. you see a lot of people slipping and sliding and falling. it's dangerous. not just driving, but even walking. got to be careful out there. >> it is really rough. >> 4 inches of snow here in new york city, i think, but followed by rain and icy mix, coming in this morning, it was pretty slick out ther icy mix when i was coming in, i. was pretty slick..em. >> it is a heavy snow. between the that's the problem, between the, icing and the sleet, it is treeh bringing down trees which are r bringing down power lines. the other thing we have been th talking about see talking about, you see snowplows there.lows there. a lot of communities have a lot of communities have blownw through their snow removal rem and are physically out of budget and are physically out od rock salt and chemicals. >> this is early february.chemi. >> march is pretty busy for many of our area here in the northeast, so march is pretty busy for many of our area here in the and alsf northeast as well and much of s going to be scraping by the country is going to be barrel tryin scraping by the barrel trying tg difference find out how they are going to make up for the difference there. >> and folks are propane and natural gas and >> folks that have propane and up. natural gas and oil have gone up. to heat their homes. it is going to cost them more t. >> it really is. >> and heat their homes.me there is a this is a tough, tough winter. that big >> if there is a better news today, that big storm you were this talking about or predicting by this weekend is backing off.>> a >> not as bad.s snow and not as wide a >> not as much and not as wide a geographic area. new england has to watch out. new england has to watch out. a point is good news. >> all right. but, again, any news at this point is good news. >> all right.s we are dealing wr woes as we are dealing with our woesn here, willie is in sochi where it is much warmer. i think it's in the 40s there, right, willie? i think it is in the 40s there, right, willie?yeah >> reporter: yeah.. 40s. i'm looking at it is in the 40s. in new york and other i'm looking at the video in newe york and other places.rew on th it is nothing like this here. no snow on the ground. though. that's w plenty up in the mountains.heto. shaun white, that's where the news is today. known athlete at these games shaun white, arguably the best known athlete at these games w from one of around the world, has withdrawns from one of the competition he o was slated to participate in, the snowboard slope style. cslo. it's a first time event. a first-time event, a race down tricks and different the hill on the snowboard with halfpipes and big jumps. hurt his tricks and different wrist half-pipes and big jumps. t ver course. but he said he hurt his wrist on this very course. treason he says, that is not the reasonu why he has pulled out. gave a sc he gave a statement to nbc newsr in which he says, after much ity deliberation with my team, i ' made my decision to have made the decision to focusg solely on trying to bring home n the third straight gold medal in halfpipe for team half-pipe for team usa. the difficult decision is not one i tak the difficult decision to foregi slope style is not one i take p lightly as i know how much effort everyone has put into he the holding the slope style for thef first time in olympic history, now, some people speculating the a history i had planned on t being a part of. difficult. shaun white was some speculating that the course to s was too difficult.dangerous. shaun white was not the only one he called to say, this is down right dangerous.estyle course he called this slope style he week. course intimidating earlier in r the week and there were a coupl broke his collarbone. and then, of major injuries, one norwegia concussion, had to woman had a concussion and had to be pulleda off the course in a stretcher. stretcher. obviously, they are going to c before competition begins. make changes before competition begins. is shaun white the big news is that shaun whiti will not be in the first ever pr slope style competition up on sp the mountain.et mountain. as for behind as for some of the behind the here, want t scenes stuff here, i want to o show you the mascot.we're used i think we are used to these t we've got standard ones here. freakishly odd, what are they mascots. polar bear, hare and the leopar we have the polar bear, the hart and the leopard. nature. all animals that exist in nature.2012 in london? . i think we're still trying to on the other hand, 2012 in exa cyclops london, mandeville. were. we had mythical 2010 in vancouver, we had mega e quachi and sumi. sasquatch and a guardian spirit. so there you have it here in sochi, at least, we're back for the standard animals. by the way, guys, a mythical sea bear, sas kauch and a spirit. arrive in sochi c limits today telling u >>> the olympic torch did arrivy telling us the games are getting awfully close.rts tomorrow. opening games on friday. it'll make tour around sochi, up to the competition starts tomorrow. mo, the town up there and down to the stadium for the event opening games friday. games on guys. the opening game on friday night guys. we have anne thompson? >> do we have ann thompson? i h. >> i thought i i think i heard her voice. hear >> as the torch is coming in. >> we'll get >> we'll get a slit screen with. lly up in the mountains. >> she is up in the mountains. >> >> that's cool.yway. >> the willie, excitement must be e building t really building there now that athletes a the athletes are getting there, the torches arrive there..torch it is making its way. you must be feeling you must be feeling a little biy more of that olympic spirit throughout.mpmp>> you know how . you >> you guys know how it is. you get here on monday and it f feels a little slow.w. feels sl everybody is getting their feetm under them and figuring out o g. where to go. the athletes come as the athletes come on the set. feel the we have to talk to a lot of them.citement. competition is 24 hours you feel the energy and excitement.eady to go. >> it competition is 24 hours away.if we are ready to go..>> it does. can't wait to get >> it looks really beautiful.anr can't wait to get there. p day, what's your phrase of the day, willie?wigood. phrase of the danglish. this is, do you speak english? do you speak english? critical for us over the nex i'm going to cheat a little bit [ speaking russian ] do you speak english?ed it. got it. [ speaking in russian ] working on that since 6:0 i have been working on that since 6:00 a.m.id you know thatr natalie has a year of russian under her >> did you know that our natalie >> i forgot most of it. has a year of russian under her belt? >> i did. >> i forget most of it. >> yes, yep. you got it. >> that's it. she already knew >> yes, it is that.that was me it and you already knew it. [ speaking in russian ] i still. but very few phrases. >> that's one i still remember. very few phrases. very impressive, my friends. >> very impressive, my friend. >> what are you doing.ou doing? still remember that. >> all right. thank you. [ speaking in russia ] >> that's thank you. see, i don't know when to use i don't know when to use that. they just come out.. in the adv. stop. >> you are in the advanced class.s. phr