the fact that you just moved to Houston makes your last statement kinda funny, when you think that someone is shooting off fireworks all the time, it's not.
One block over from where you described you were moving, there's a small strip mall with a Starbucks. This chick was in the drive through and looked as if she had falllen asleep, the line wasn't moving so they went to check on why. She had been shot with a 22 behind her ear and nobody saw/ heard anything. Now, there had to be people in front of her or she wouldn't have stopped short of the window, and it happened in the morning rush hour, so not having somebody behind you is almost impossible to imagine.
Shit happens everyday, all day. In Iraq, at least you'ld know it was coming, some sort of solice imo....
Other than that, you'll love H-town, I did for 8 years......