You could find a better deal than that on the STL11000M C2 if you look around... Pretty sure I've seen them advertised recently as low as $5900USD...
Back on topic...
Greg, there is a fine line between pleasure and pain. It would seem you have a full month worth of pain ahead of you, then, in the blink of an eye, the calander switches from 24/12/09 to 25/12/09 and the pleasure begins...
I know for certain, there is - No - way that anyone could get between me and a brand spankin new telescope... especially not for a whole month!
If I were you I'd have a late one christmas eve... as soon as the clock strikes 12, unwrap that bad boy, run it outside to the mount (which is already set up in preparation) wack it on and have a good long play till dawn!