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JESSICA FINCH Associate Editor

• HOME - On Saturday, I had a few friends over for a housewarming party, which was a good thing, considering that with the cost of fuel I might need people to "heat" my house. What was amusing was the quirks I had to explain to people - the small imperfections that don't seem to bother you until people point them out. My apartment, a great two-bedroom upper, came with a brand-new, huge, stainless steel refrigerator with the freezer drawer on the bottom. But it has to be the loudest fridge I have ever heard. The first night I was there, I thought I would have to unplug it. Constant noise is my pet peeve. Forget the old-fashioned water torture; for me the sound of a ticking clock is horrible. But I have since become used to the buzzing noise. On that note, I also can't use my kitchen light because of the constant buzzing sound it makes while warming up.

Also, on my first night in the apartment, I was in my bedroom and froze when I heard my front door shut, or so I thought. After gaining my courage, I opened the bedroom door and realized that my front door moved every time my downstairs neighbors opened the front door. The noise caught my first guests off guard. They kept looking around the corner to see who had walked in and then asked if it always did that. Every time, I said.

Then there is the train. Every night my TV starts shaking as the train passes nearby. The first time it happened I thought my house was haunted, also because I was convinced my computer chair moved itself from the second bedroom to the living room. I have since accepted that I was probably wrong about that one, too.

I feel like the most troubleshooting room for most houses is the bathroom, with tricks to the toilet handle or shower knobs. In mine it's the secret location of the light switch. A friend asked if it was a pain reaching up on my tiptoes every time I turned on the light. I shrugged, because that's just the way it is.

• VOLUNTEER NEEDED - The Alzheimer's Association, Western New York Chapter, is in need of a volunteer to provide immediate administrative support for the chapter's development department. Responsibilities will include computer support, assistance with mailings, filing, telephone support and other office duties as needed. Experience with Microsoft Office Excel and Word is a must. The volunteer will be needed for a minimum of one four-hour period each week, preferably Monday or Tuesday, anytime between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more information, contact Welthea Christman at 626-0600 or Welthea.Christ man@alz.org.

• INTERNS NEEDED - Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds, R-Amherst, is seeking undergraduate and graduate students interested in serving as interns in his Washington, D.C., Rochester and Williamsville offices during the spring. Responsibilities consist of administrative and legislative duties including constituent relations, research, clerical tasks, managing mail and answering constituent calls. The deadline for spring 2008 intern applications is Friday, Nov. 23. A limited number of interns will be accepted each semester. Internships are available for school credit if approved by the applicant's college or university. For more information or an application, call the Williamsville office at 634-2324 or visit www.reynolds.house.gov.