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Ice fishing. Flights out of LAX. Family vacations to Iowa.

The above situations have been for the most part the only reason in my life that I’ve ever felt the necessity to wake up (and get up) before the crack of dawn, while the night is still in the midst of all it’s dark glory. As a result, I’ve never really gotten the opportunity to appreciate a beautiful sunrise, especially as it might occur over a city skyline.

Yet, as this school year has begun, I’ve gotten into the habit of consistently getting up before the sun actually rises, crawling out of bed, and getting ready for the day more early than I am used to. There are a number of advantages this offers, not the least of which is a stunning view of the sunrise above Los Angeles as I drive east toward work on Pico Blvd. 

However, there is a definite downside to all this: