These beagles are Rudy and Harrison, and they belong to someone who has brought much joy into many lives:
I’ve mentioned before that in some bizarro-world twist of pure awesomeness, a certain Mr. Tim Minear reads my blog and occasionally exchanges emails with me because he is clearly a crazy person, just like most of you who enjoy said blog. If you are properly fulfilled in life and thus are a fan of 
I’m gonna go ahead and pile on with the fan-girl thing for a second, partly because I’m pregnant with triplets and you can’t hold it against me, and partly just to make some of you cry with envy. Several weeks ago, a regular reader named Ed emailed to let me know that he was one of the organizers of a charity screening of the Serenity movie in Dallas on June 22, which Minear was going to attend – and offered me free tickets. MUCH to my sorrow, I had to decline because Rupert and I had a wedding to go to that night. (Which of course we ended up not going to because Rupert was with his dad and I hurt my back.)
Anyway, Ed solidified his hero status by offering me the next best thing: he’d get a signed copy of the Minear-penned Firefly episode script of my choice. It was a no-brainer, I wanted “Out of Gas.” That script, personalized with a perfectly Rachl-Lukis-esque note from Minear (by which I mean containing at least one F-bomb), is now sitting in my living room, quietly proving that I didn’t turn out to be a loser after all. Because how great is that? I can now watch the best episode of the best sci-fi show ever, with the actual script in my geeky little fists.
The fabulousness doesn’t end there, as much as you wish it would. See, Ed has been reading my blog since way back in the day and happened to have a spare Imagine No Liberals mug, and he gave it to Minear. Who told me it makes him happy.
Yes, it hurts to be this cool.
I’ll stop gloating now. Because what’s really important is the dogs, and do you know what I think every time I see a beagle? Get in mah belly. I want to eat them! In the good way, of course, the way you want to nibble on plump little babies, kittens, and pork chops.
hmmm, geeky awesomeness blended with shiny dogginess in one post. Things be looking up round here.
aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh Beagles have the sweetest little kissable faces. :) There was a puppy today when I dropped Trooper at Doggy Daycare and I just wanted to scoop him up and cuddle.
Damn it but your shiny factor is exponentially increasing…I hate you. In that “I love you but have to hate you right now” way.
As I’ve always said, this is the blog of the cool kids.
Minear for vice/assistant Supreme Ruler of the World!!
Those dogs are so cute, it ALMOST makes me want to be a dog owner. Nah – too much responsibility. I like being able to get up and go whenever I want. I’ll stick to cats.
Awww… they’re Muslim-lickin’ cute.
Rachel — I know you’ve posted in the past about your reluctance to commission any more “Imagine No Liberals” mugs, but there’s gotta be a way to do it on the down-low. I’m sure there are quite a few loyal readers who’d jump at the chance to get one. I know I would!
But making new INL mugs would diminish the value of the originals, and we all know the market for collectible Rchl Lukis memorabilia is a cut-throat and dangerous one. I wouldn’t want to be the person who diminished the value of those mugs! You never know who they might send after you! I’ve heard of people breaking into homes, searching kitchen cupboards until they found these mugs, and breaking them just so there are fewer in existence, so the value of these things is of great interest to some pretty powerful people!
(Well, ok, maybe I embellished just a little. )
Rachel, you left out two very important points in that last blog entry: The beagle’s names! Should we just refer to them as ‘Rachl’ and ‘Ruprt’?
Awesome, Rachel.
But did you happen to ask Tim if those cute little guys were, in fact, black market beagles? 8^)
Oops. Rudy and Harrison. Next time I’ll read the WHOLE thing. Sorrry.
Durh.
OMG!!! Rachel, I’m probably the most jealous person in creation right now!!!
When I build a time machine, go back and cheat at the stock market, allowing me to purchase Fox before it cancels so many shows of pure genius–
I’ll get you to do a cameo appearance on Firefly.
I’ll get you… and your little dog, too.
That would be an awesome episode.
If ever there was motivation strong enough to actually realize a time machine, it would be the mystery that is Shepherd Book.
^— is mad jealous of the Minear connection.
I want one too…
OMG, Beagles! I always had one growing up and they are still my favorite dog. Deacon, Bingo and Shelby – each one was so adorably squeezeably sweet. I miss them!
Puppies!!!11!!!
Wachel, I sended you a pic of my beagle, Jazz, a while back (it’s not a real blogworthy pic, I know–it was just a “thank-you-for-brightening-my-day-I-hope-this-brightens-yours-a-little” pic).
Anywayz, beagles is da bestest, sweetest, cutest, most huggable dogs in the world. Jazz is dumb as a post, but we LOVE her waggy little butt so much!! We are grateful to Southern Maryland Beagle Rescue for approving us to adopt her!
Good lookin’ dogs.
Chartreuse with envy here. (On my way to green, but not there yet.)
If Tim Minear emails you again ask him how is going.
Sob. I am crying with envy. Not only can Rachl arrange to make me cry bitter tears, she gloats about it. She really is world leader material.
Ya know, Rachel, sometimes you come-across as totally shameless hussy — but you’re our shameless hussy.
Not totally shameless. If she were totally shameless she’d have shown up and let Tim see just how good a tequila drinker she is.
They have smallish droppings you know.
And I’m incredibly jealous. At Minear’s dogs and your contact with him.
While I will have to content myself with deciding from which of The Boss’s and my four mugs — the two* ‘Imagines,’ the ‘Saddest Bee,’ or the ‘Short Bus’ — I should now drink my bitter cup of righteous envy!
Beagle faces are adorable, but I can’t see them without being reminded of my father’s tales of riding the freight elevator at NIH. With the crates full of study dogs. All beagles.
Thanks, Wachl Lukis!
[Actually, envy aside, I’m totally tickled for you — that is insanely coooooool!!!!!!!]
*BWAAAAAHAHAAAAAAAA! Okay, my gloat is as the howling of Little Cindy Lou Who next to Wachl’s, but it’s all I’ve got. Humor me!
Those beagles are truly shiny.
I have never had a dog of my own, but if I did, it would be a beagle. And his name would be Spartacus. Just because that’s a cool name for a dog.
Yes, dammit, there is the crying. And the envy. And the vexing vexatious vexedness.
I can never be as cool as you, never.
Except for the fact that we both know that Out of Gas is the single most wrenching amazing hour of television ever. Ever. That counts for something.
awww i just love those beagles. Those big sad eyes, they’d just run the whole damn house if they were mine.
And may the Fox executive responsible for canceling Firefly burn in hell for all eternity.
Our Mrs. Reynolds is my favorite episode.
“You got a wife? All I got was a stupid stick.”
“She has a name!”
“This has a name too, I call her Vera”
Some of the best lines ever.
I like the dogs AND the chair.
Cup Lover
At the top it says their names are Rudy and Harrison — so now the speculation begins.
Rudy Guliani and Harrison Ford?
Rudy Youngblood and George Harrison?
Rudy Ruettiger and Jenilee Harrison?
Rudy Valentino and Gregory Harrison?
Rudy Vallee and Rex Harrison?
Rudy (movie) and Harrison (AOL video)?
Or something equally nefarious and scandilizing …
The mind … it bossles with poggibles.
Best Firefly quote EVER:
“I’ll be in my bunk.”
My favorite episode is the one where Mal ended up in a swordfight with the dude who’d hired Inari.
Truthfully, there is not a single Firefly episode that does not kick the everliving stuffing out of the BEST Battlestar Galactica episode.
The worst Firefly episode would shit on the best BSG episode from a height of several miles.
Aw c’mon, BSG’s not too shabby. No shittin’ goin on there!
I have cat named Rudy! Which means nothing, but it tickles me to no end that my guy shares a name with one of these two adorable Beagle Babes.
otcconan,
You are so right (sorry Ed R, but it’s true).
Kaylee was priceless in that one (talking engines with the officers and gentlemen) — loved the last scene of her in her cabin with ‘the dress.’
My favorite? All of ’em!
OK. If you say so;)
Take a gander at Jane Espenson’s IMDB.com credit listing sometime, though. Just for grins.
moar
Just proves the point, Ed — she did her very best work when she worked with the very best material! ;)
I should point something out- calling me one of the organizers of this year’s event would be insulting to the woman who did it all- Tara Fallon. I was, seriously, just a warm body hanging out and looking for something to do to help out. I didn’t do much at all- just direct some traffic in the theater and that’s about it.
Rachel you are sooooo lucky. Way cool girl, guess you will be getting to high falutin for us mere mortals next ;)
AND you use Fat Bastard quotes. How cool is that :)
Oops! Should have said:
moar
Alan, I’d never heard of it, but looks incredibly fascinating. I’m intrigued by the storyline already. Now I can’t wait for it to air.
I’m looking forward to Fringe in the fall. I used to look forward to 24, but it has sunk so low lately, that I’m not even sure I’ll watch it this winter. Their last season really sucked at the end (after starting off so great with Chinese torture and a nuclear bomb). I hate that they’ve become so politically correct and made all the worst bad guys American. Further, I am disgusted by their global warming crap. Besides, I think any episode with Janeane Garafaolo will suck donkey balls. 24 used to be rogue, now it’s political pablum for losers.
Oh, and looking forward to the Sarah Conner Chronicles again this fall. Just saw a preview last night and am relieved they are bringing it back.
Rachel,
As our lovely blogmistress, my appreciation of you knows no bounds. However, and please don’t take this the wrong way, I’m fighting the urge to cast a “My Crotch Itches Like Crazy and I Have to Scratch It In Front of Everybody” spell on you right now. Not because I’m insanely jealous.. okay, that’s a lie, because right now I am seething with bitter, bitter envy.
Anyway, your cool factor just went up a couple of orders of magnitude and it was already pretty high.
Big Firefly fan here, too. Had dinner with friends last night and wore my “Kicker of Asses” t-shirt (with Jayne on it).
I’m so jealous of your Tim connection. I guess quality recognizes quality. Love all of his work (and yours). Could you put up a picture of your script?
I’m envious of your immense coolness. Minear is a genius. FYI- the second you mention you’ve had contact with Nathan Fillion, I will begin the process of stealing your identity. You’ve been warned…
Rachl Lukis, you have to stop being so awesome before I start to officially hate you for it.
sry, but i spld ‘kyoot’ rong las tiem — srsly!
OT:
Totally OT, but :
If the finding were reversed — if only three of the eighteen Iraq benchmarks had shown progress instead of the other way around — how much do you want to bet it would have been a top headline in all the MSM? feh!
Holy Crap!
The first picture of those dogs seriously look like dead ringers for my sisters old beagle/wiener dog mix George (waiting at the Rainbow Bridge) and my 9 yr old red & white beagle Kei (“Kay”). The resemblance is extremely astonishing. I had to take 2-3 glances to see the differences.when ever I can find some pics I’ll send them to you as reader dog pics. I got a cute one somewhere of Kei in a baby basket she crawled into by herself one day.
Wachel Lukis IS Junie B. Jones, all growed up…
I differ. Wachel is world-reknowned storyteller Scout Finch, sorta growed up.
Wow, Rachel. Congratulations!
If you stare at the script long enough, do you think a hole will develop in the space time continum and you’ll be able to go visit the ‘verse? And can I come with you?
That’s soooo cool Rachel! I didn’t even know about Firefly ’till I stumbled across Serenity. Spaceships, shotguns, sixguns, horses, Reapers (shiver). What’s not to like!?! Keeley (BOING!) makes bearing grease look like make-up. Jayne makes knuckle draggin’ (and killin’) look good. And you got an autographed script of “Out of Gas”!?! When you take over the world, can I be your Secretary of Creative Humiliation (OK, Slaughter) of Hollywood Asshats? I guess that includes everyone not associated with Firefly or 24, so I’d keep pretty busy.
Oh Yeah, the beagles ARE pretty shiny. When I was growing up (my wife wonders whether that ever actually happened), one of my friends had a beagle that climbed trees to fetch oranges… on command! We washed the slobber off before we ate ’em.
But the slobber only gets on the peel so it’s all good.
Rachel’s post inspired me to spend all of last night watching the first six episodes of Firefly. And thus I wasted an entire evening.
When I say “wasted,” I mean, “enjoyed.”
Rachl Lukis, dis for you.
It sucks only having internet use at work. “Out of gas” rocked, but:
Jayne: ‘I don’t see one reason for us to stick our necks out for strangers…’
Malcolm: “They’re whores”
Jayne: “I’m in”
is my favorite interchange on my favorite episode. And ‘Dear diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy. Today I was captured by hillfolk never to be seen again. It was the best day ever.’ rivals “I’ll be in my bunk” for favorite line. I haven’t watched the series now in about 3 months so I am not sure my quotes are exact. I would need a signed copy of the original script to be sure…