this thread has made me realize how much a part music plays in my waking up process on work day mornings. i keep the radio on all night and tuned to the local npr station (wgcu) and usually a volume spike in the classical piece that's playing causes me to open my eyes at 4:30 - 5:00 a.m. i lie there in a fuzzy state for awhile listening and staring at the two guitars on stands by the bed. i get up make some coffee and start abowl of spoon sized shredded wheat soaking, pick up a guitar (usually the small larrivee)sit on the couch in the living room and fingerpick softly, so as not to wake beth, and listen to morning edition. after i dress and get to the truck i crank up the gin blossoms "outside looking in" (some mornings this could be "tony rice plays bluegrass" or a bill monroe tape which spans most of his career) to not quite bleeding ear level and get psyched for the day ahead. i guess i'm in a rut but it seems to work for me. vl