[flexcoders] Creating a Modal Window

[wwwpl]

Is there an easy way to create a modal window without using the popup 
manager?  I want to gray out every window but the current one so no 
mouse clicks or keyboard input can happen except this window.  I have 
tried using the PopUpManager with a Canvas, but Canvas in the 
PopUpManager turns the background to transparent.  The whole screen 
looks grayed out.  I am using the Canvas to draw on over the top of 
another component.