Elaine Laird Gaertner:  

Life My husband, Chas, and I live in Carrboro, North Carolina, with our 2 children, Greta & Van, and our dog, Nigel. Greta Lily was born in Feb '02, and her brother, Van Owen, was just born in July '06. I received a degree in writing from California University and have had a variety of career directions, from retail and teaching preschool, to actually doing some writing for the Classmates website (Celebrity Yearbook). I've found my true passion in the book business, however. I worked in book stores for several years and wish to have my own bookshop. I met Chas in an environmental/animal rights group in 1990 and we married in 1994. We moved to NC in 1995 in search of a warmer climate. Chas is a chiropractor and has a practice here in Chapel Hill, a quaint but semi-urban (for the south) college town where everything is within a walk or bike ride. I enjoy movies, reading, and playing with my children. I dabble in my art interests--painting and crafty stuff--and I occasionally do freelance graphics or writing. We bought a house in 2003 and I spend a lot of time on the gardening and landscaping. My life is pretty simple and pleasant, and I couldn't be happier. School High school was a giant emotional roller coaster. I took every opportunity to know more people. I always felt like Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink, because I had an "in" with the "right " cro...Expand for more