Since I started to use emoticons, I always use tilting-to-the-left version. But the other way version is also common on Internet.

:-) (-:

I don't use the later one because it's against the writing direction, left-to-right, I felt it would interrupt the reading.

However, I always find it's hard to use first version with parenthesis, especially with right parenthesis.

blah blah blah. (more blah. lol. :-))

That's so confusing. So, I came up with an awkward resolution, an additional space.

blah blah blah. (more blah. lol. :-) )

I add a space between the smiling mouth and right parenthesis, it doesn't help much, but it does a little better.

Finally, after so many years, I suddenly realized the tilting-to-the-right version is a savior!

blah blah blah. (more blah. lol. (-:)

Alright, might not be so much of a savior but at least no space is needed.