hour of observation 10/22

I was sitting in my back yard looking mainly south and west and north. I had visibility of third magnitude star almost fourth. I was trying to see the meteor shower but I dont think I saw any. The stars were flickering a lot, they seemed more so than normal, is that because the atmosphere? I was trying to find the Northern cross and work from there. I beleive I found it,, I found the summer triangle. I think I saw Scorpius or the Serpent. The moon was a wanning cresent. It was a pretty small sliver. I was observing the sky from 8 to 9. There were only a few low clouds were I was I live in Sarasota. My neighbors had some lights on and I live off Bee Ridge so that couldnt have helped the visibility. I think I successfully pointed out a few contillations to my mom however.