Now if you want to give a gift that will really knock her stockings off, how a bout a ticket on the National Review 2005 British Isles Cruise?! Imagine 11 glorious days sailing to England, Ireland, Scotland, and Guernsey, in the company of Bill Buckley, Robert Bork, Peggy Noonan, Larry Kudlow, Paul Johnson, David Pryce-Jones, Kate O’Beirne, Rich Lowry, Jay Nordlinger, John O’Sullivan and others (yes, there will be others, and a big name or two among them – when the RSVPs are official I’ll let you know) – I just can’t think of a better once-in-a-lifetime gift to give. And this you can do before Santa comes – just go to www.nrcruise.com to reserve your luxury stateroom on Crystal Cruise’s glorious Symphony.

And by the way, many many thanks to all who purchased our wonderful books, and who suffered through the daily appeals here on The Corner, especially the endless bowing and scraping to her majesty, Queen Zixi of Ix (can’t help it: the book is yours FREE when you buy any of our delightful kids’ titles! – all available here).