Sorry your husband won't be home for the holiday, but it sounds like you have a solid plan to keep yourself busy (BTW, my GF thinks Obama is "buff," too). On a side note, one of my favorite Christmases was one year when I was feeling too depressed to do anything. I just stayed home & peacefully chilled. It truely was a "silent night," & a day free of stress. As far as food goes, take-out pizza, Chinese & whatever else you like. Why cook for one?

I'm going down to my GF's family Christmas. It will be a full house. Her nephew has terminal cancer & has 3-6 months to live, so it will most likely be his last Christmas. His sister & her family are flying in from San Diego to spend the holiday with him & the rest of the family. Then cousins & others will also be there. Probably about 20-25 peeps in all. It will be somewhat stressful, but I'll have some klonopin in my pocket just in case.