Unexpected Sights 'n Sounds

You never know what you're gonna see or hear in the city. Yesterday (July 30th, 2005) I heard the clip-clop of horse hooves outside the front of the house and raced to the window. Six brothers were riding horses north on the fairly busy street. Later that evening (aside from the police helicopter using its searchlight overhead), I again raced to the window in the back of the house after hearing more hooves -- this time a horse was drawing a small carriage around the corner on another street. I guess they must have been returning from some event nearby held earlier in the day. I also was surprised by (and thoroughly enjoyed) the evening concert that some unseen skilled bird was putting on as he/she was situated in the tree that shades my backyard. Occasional radar-like light-blips coming from some fire-flies provided a nice visual accompaniment to the bird's song.