Alerts at different times?

We are using the canned (really not pretty) e-mail alerts for quote follow-up date notification. The problem is, while at first the e-mails went out at midnight, they are slowly getting later and leter. Now they are launching at 7:15 am, and this is a concern. Sales people need their follow up list before the start of their workday, and we are on the west coast. (7:15 am here is WAY too late for New York).
I have no clue as to what triggers this, if not the change of day on the calendar. But how can I find out what time/date the application thinks it is? I know server date/time is set correctly, but...
Thanks in advance for your help!
- leAnn