I am Elena (listen), or theresmiling (listen). I have written this site entirly by myself, using HTML and CSS and a simple text editor. I started out with the one that came with my laptop, Windows' Editor. Then I switched to Notepad++, that I am still using.
I have been wanting to learn how to make websites for a long time. In early 2023 I started to learn HTML and CSS through online resources and books (see links). I am having a ball! Finding the fediverse had no small part in that. Infact, it was the beginning of it all. Joining the fediverse was like stepping back into the world I always wanted to be a part of all those years ago. On the no longer existing instance firefish.social I've phrased it like so: Being here feels very retro and very current at the same time.
So, here I am, in my early 40s, learning how to write a website, and how to fill it with words. Who knows what else I will come up with.
This site is a constant work in progress. I am still at the beginning of my learning and will probably add to the design and change it all together in the future.
I've had a bunch of different internet nick names in my life. Who didn't? One of my first ones for example is "Jadzia". Jadzia Dax is my top favourite (female) character on Star Trek, so using her name was an absolute no-brainer. I wasn't the only one with that brilliant idea however, so it came the time when, upon creating new profiles on new sites, "Jadzia" was already taken. And after a while I grew tired of using variations too. I needed an alternative.
I found one in late 2004. That's when Danish band Saybia published their album These Are the Days. One song immediately spoke to me: It's Ok Love. The chorus goes like this (emphasis by me):
Just when I thought
There was nobody out there
No one who quite understood me
I glanced to the side
And I found you there smiling
Patiently holding my hand
Saying over and over
It's ok love
Easy love
I'm here
That's it. That's where my internet name comes from. I've been using it for 20 years and I'm using it everywhere. Chances are that when you see someone using the name "theresmiling", it's me.
Instead of a whole page I am adding this section right here to list a few things I am into at the moment.
I write short reviews of the books I've read over on my Bookwyrm account.
I have moved away from walled garden social media, but can be found on various fediverse platforms. The following are the two I use regularly. You can find other profiles of mine there.
There I post about many things, but mostly about Star Trek. If you want to contact me, just drop me a line on one of the platforms listed.
You can also write me an e-mail: hello [-at-] theresmiling [dot] eu