Hello,

I am Elena [eˈleːna] (listen), or theresmiling [ˈðerˌsmaɪliŋ] (listen). I have written this site entirely by myself, using HTML and CSS and a text editor. I started out with the one that came with my laptop, Windows' Editor. After some other programmes I am now using VSCodium.

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, it will never be "finished". I will add more pages in the future (the list with ideas is long), change things around, re-write sections (both behind the scenes (HTML and CSS) as I am learning new stuff or come up with new designs, and the texts that you can read), and maybe even retire pages again.

About the name "theresmiling"

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.

Currently...

Instead of a whole page I am adding this section right here to list a few things I am into at the moment.

interested in:

  • Fashion industry and its impact on humans and nature
  • Small web and personal websites
  • Anit-capitalism, degrowth, solar punk, climate justice, etc.
  • learning electronics (with my new Arduino)
  • learning Bash/ terminal/ console
  • learning Italian

reading:

I write short reviews of the books I've read over on my Bookwyrm account.

  • Worn. A People's History of Clothing. By Sofi Thanhauser
  • Raus aus der Autokratie. Von Katja Diehl
  • Digitale Mündigkeit. Von Leena Simon
  • Star Trek: Open a Channel: A Woman's Trek. By Nana Visitor
  • Hooded Swan series. By Brian M. Stableford; currently between books 2 and 3
  • Persuasion. By Jane Austen
  • Commissario Brunetti series. By Donna Leon; currently reading book 10

listening to:

  • a wild mix of music (see my scrobbles below)
  • Star Trek: Identity Theft. By Greg Cox (audio book)

watching:

  • Star Trek: DS9 re-watch, season 5
  • Star Trek: Lower Decks re-watch, season 2
  • various cyberpunk films
  • Malo, Space Trucker
  • Columbo

Where else you can find me

Feel free to follow!

...or send me an e-mail

You can also write me an e-mail: hello [-at-] theresmiling [dot] eu