This is second in the series of profiles of link, for the simple expedient that linkwas the second to reply to my inquiry. This article was most recently edited on 17 March 2008.
I first became aware of Temptasia back in May 2007 from her activity in the link, though it wasn't until later, when she became a regular poster to the link and link spots, that I had a lot of interaction with her.
In talking to other users about Temptasia, there was one constant in everyone's comments: here is a woman universally admired for her positive and friendly interactions with the Fanpop community.
link wrote: "As you know Fanpop is great because of the friendly community here. I've met a bunch of nice people on here who are kind and helpful. Temptasia was one of the first people that I met on Fanpop that embodied the friendly and open spirit that is Fanpop. She definitely helps to foster that spirit and attitude around here. That's what makes Fanpop different than all the other sites."
Back in January of this year, I started interviewing most of the Fan of the Fortnight recipients, including Temptasia. The following is adapted from a Q&A series from January and early March.
Harold: Thank you for agreeing to this little interview. To start, would you describe how you discovered Fanpop?
Temptasia: I discovered Fanpop while looking for a place to watch full episodes of "link." I saw the picks that are alongside the videos and couldn't help but answer them. That is when I decided to join. At first I didn't participate actively, but after a couple of month I was hooked.
Harold: What would surprise other Fanpop users to learn about you?
Temptasia: Hopefully it wouldn't be too surprising, but one thing that many users might not know about me is that I am a Christian. I live for God and to do his work. I try to show God's love in everything I do and to everyone I know. Also, I have a hidden talent, which is the ability to sound like a Pterodactyl. I would have to say it is pretty amazing.
Harold: There's a charge of support that one gets from one's church community that really stokes the fires for God, don't you think?
Temptasia: Yes, I am a member of a wonderful church. It has been kind of hard for me because my husband is not a Christian although he has been coming with me lately. I also have recently gone through training and become a member of the nursery staff. I help with the four year old class. It is truly beautiful to see them dancing around and singing praise to our Lord. I also love that our church puts a strong emphasis on making sure they know that God loves them and put them here on the earth for a very specific purpose. I think that is a wonderful way to make a child feel important and loved. No matter what else is going on in their life, I think it is important they know that God’s love is something they can always count on. I completely agree with the fact that church really stokes the fires for God. Since I have gotten involved with this church it has completely changed my life. It has really shown me that God is working in my life all the time and it is helping me see the very specific purpose he has put me on this Earth. God built us to be in relationship with others and he calls us to maintain a fellowship with other believers. It helps keep us strong and focused on him.
Harold: How did you find that you could sound like a pterodactyl?
Temptasia: I lose my voice all the time because I talk soooo much. One time when I had lost my voice I was just playing around making screeching noises and realized that it sounded like a Pterodactyl. Then I just figured out how to reproduce that sound with my normal voice. If you want I can make a video of it and put it up :P
Harold: Aside from you, what is noteworthy about your home town?
Temptasia: Ummm... aside from nothing... Nothing. No, really, my home town is absolutely gorgeous. It is surrounded by water and trees. It is a tourist town. There are literally cliffs which you can dive off of straight into a beautiful glistening lake.
Harold: You know I'm imagining huge cliffs like they have in the tropics. In fact, my whole concept of cliff diving is informed by tropical imagery, which makes it difficult for me to picture people in your neck of the woods diving without wearing hibiscus blooms...
Temptasia: Here are a couple of pictures that should help you visualize it. These are pictures of the place we cliff dive:
link
link
link
Harold: What is your favorite little-known Fanpop spot?
Temptasia: Well, it depends on what you mean by little-known" I am going to say under 100 members, which would make my favorite "little-known" spot the link. I absolutely love that show. I literally have rituals I perform on Wednesday night to prepare. I my kids to bed and I get a my favorite bowl of link and enjoy the show. I also Fanpop while I watch in case I think of a good pick to make about the show.... lol
Harold: Would you let any of your kids participate in such a show, if one were on in a few years' time?
Temptasia: My initial reaction would be to say no because I am very over protective parent. I mean, I have trouble leaving my kids at my mom’s house overnight…lol! But I guess it would really depend on the maturity of the child I was considering sending. I would like to think that I will have instilled strong Christian values in my children so I won’t have to worry about the things they would choose to do. However, what worries me is the lack of supervision and some of the things that happened on the first season (e.g. kids drinking bleach, grease burns, etc…). I think to make a proper decision I would really need to know exactly how much supervision they actually get and at what point the adults actually step in to prevent a potentially dangerous situation.
Harold: You talked about being overprotective, but possibly my favorite picture on all Fanpop is this one. How did you manage to snap that without flipping out? If I wanted a picture like that of Lucia, I'd have to both toss her and take the picture...my wife would never be calm enough to watch that.
Temptasia: LOL well, it was actually really hard for me, but I trust my husband I know that he would never do anything that could possibly harm our children. And in all of his craziness he had yet to drop a baby.
Harold: Describe your favorite place.
Temptasia: My favorite place is anywhere where I can be on Fanpop. I guess maybe the best place to Fanpop would be in a massage chair with my someone massaging my feet or with my feet soaking in hot water.... as long as I didn't drop my laptop into the water :P
Harold: If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
Temptasia: I would go to the 2008 Office Convention. I would absolutely die if I got the opportunity to go.
Harold: On that note, what film/show have you enjoyed recently?
Temptasia: Well, I always enjoy “The Office” and a British show called “link.” But more recently I have learned to enjoy the show “link.” It is probably third on my list of all time favorite shows only following the two aforementioned shows.
Harold: OK, so which is your favorite "Red Dwarf" season? I love the show, but I've never managed to make it through all of the seasons, for whatever reason. My favorite line from the show: "Oh, look! It's Marilyn Monroe!"
Temptasia: It is really hard to say. I like the earlier seasons best. It is hard for me to choose which one because I love the original Holly (Norman Lovett) and he was only in seasons 1, 2, 7, and 8, but I also love Kryten who didn't start appearing until season 3. And the only time these 2 characters appear together is in season 7 and 8 and in those seasons only one of the original writers was still working on the show so those seasons weren’t as funny. So you can see why I am very conflicted ;)
Harold: What would you say is the best stand-alone episode of "The Office"? Say a person could only watch one episode, which one would you choose to adequately represent to that person what you hold most dear about the program?
Temptasia: First of all I want to say my FAVORITE Episode is "link" (Season 2 Episode 12). It is by far the funniest episode. However, it doesn't do justice to a few of the key elements of the show (the Jim and Pam relationship and pranking). So instead I chose "link" (Season 2 Episode 22). This is not one of my favorite episodes, but it displays all of the important office relationships (Jim and Pam, Michael and Dwight). It also shows the pranks that go on in the office, however not the funniest ones. But hey, let's face it, there is not a bad episode of "The Office". I think that this is the best episode to introduce all of the characters and really represent all aspects of the show.
Harold: When were you happiest in your life? When were you the most scared?
Temptasia: My happiest moments were just after giving birth to my children. Holding a new baby for the first time is an amazing experience. When my son was born the first he grabbed my face and just stared at me. It was the sweetest moment of my life. I was most scared when I found out I was pregnant and I had to tell my parents. Which didn’t really end up being that bad.
Harold: What's the best thing about having kids?
Temptasia: The best part of having kids in my opinion is always having some one to cuddle with and knowing that someone needs you. I love it when I kiss my kids and they giggle. It is as if in that moment they are completely content with their whole world. What an amazing feeling that must be.
Harold: Was there anything unexpected about having kids? Would you care to share any advice for new or expecting parents? What's the hardest thing about parenting multiple kids?
Temptasia: I think the thing that surprised me the most is that I never thought I could love anything or anyone as much as I love my children. After I found out I was pregnant with my son I was very worried that I would never be able to love him as much as I love my daughter but the minute he was born I did. My favorite memory with him is when they handed him to me when he was just born he looked right at my face and he reached up with his balled up little fists and put them on my face looking straight at me. I think that was the best moment of my life.
Another frequent comment that other users had about Temptasia was how touched they are by her relationship with her children, and many mentioned the great pictures she has of them.
link wrote: "I know Tarah personally, we've been friends for almost 3 years now and she never stops to amaze me. Shes a great mother that spends time with her children, teaching them and caring for them, making sure they are safe. She is very smart. She knows how to talk with people and make them feel better, and shes there if you need her for help. She doesn't make you feel like you are dumb or small, to her you are equal. Tarah is a wonderful person, mother and friend."
Harold: For the record, would you tell us about your kids and how old they are?
Temptasia: Shaylie is 2 ½ and Shadd is 16 months. Shaylie is amazingly smart for her age. Most people are astounded by her knowledge and comprehension. She also has a amazing regard and bond with her little brother. Whenever she gets something she makes sure Shadd gets it too. She also loves to comfort people. Just today I broke my favorite coffee mug and she hugged me and said, "It is OK mama, we will buy you another one. Are you OK?" It was the sweetest thing ever. Shadd is a mama's boy. He is the best snuggler in the world and he still has new baby smell, you know what I am talking about :) He is incredibly strong. He started pulling himself to sitting at 2 months! He was walking by 8 months. He is also incredibly smart. He said his first word the day after he turned 5 months old. Every day he amazes me with the amount of love he has for me and my daughter. For me it has been extremely challenging being a stay at home mom to two children, especially ones that are so close in age, because they are both still so needy. However, I have been blessed with 2 very intelligent and sweet children, and just one of their smiles makes all of the hard work worth it.
Harold: What did you do online before you found Fanpop?
Temptasia: Before Fanpop I spent a lot of time on link which I consider to be a waste of time now. I probably only check my Myspace once a month now.
Harold: Why do you think people chose you as Fan of the Fortnight?
Temptasia: People who are using their imagination to make Fanpop a better place. For me I find it easy to add thousands of images, but people who add well thought-out soapbox articles and inventive picks are the people who I look up to. Also I choose people who are friendly and kind
to other users. If I feel as if there is someone on Fan of the Fortnight that deserves it more than anyone else yet they do not treat other users with respect and kindness I will not choose them. To me this is the main factor I use to make my decision.
Harold: So do you think that people used similar criteria when selecting you as Fan of the Fortnight twice last year? Or do you think there were specific contributions that they appreciated in voting for you at those specific times?
Temptasia: I would like to think so. I mean I try my best to be a productive and positive member of Fanpop. Recently I have strived more than anything to help out new users and encourage users. Since I have been on Fanpop I have taken a particular interest in writing soapboxes. I put a lot of work and thought into them. I hope that these are some of the reasons that people chose me as Fan of the Fortnight.
User comments on Temptasia's contributions didn't narrow this down any further, as admiration for her content was all over the map. rookyboy writes: "She is one of my fav fanpoppers who adds so many of the things i love to watch. I hope she keeps it up." Crazy-Chica adds: "She is nice, funny, and makes many good picks.", and Cinders says: "I've seen a bunch of the icons she's added everywhere, they're fantastic."
Harold: Name your favorite fictional character and explain a little why you chose him/her.
Temptasia: Frankie from “link.” She is such a strong woman who always speaks her mind. She is so smart and always has the perfect thing to say, and because of this she gets the guy of her dreams. Plus she has my dream occupation which is being an actress.
Harold: Name your favorite historical figure and explain a little why you chose him/her.
Temptasia: For me this is the easiest question of all. Jesus for many reasons. One because he gave his life for us so that we can live eternally with him and God in heaven. Secondly because he is perfect. He was sinless. Honestly I don’t know anyone who could compete with that.
Harold: What are you reading these days?
Temptasia: The book of Romans in the Bible.
Harold: How has Fanpop evolved since May 2007?
Temptasia: I think in the last 6 months I have seen a change in the demeanor on this site. I feel like we have gained a ton of quality members. I feel as though a lot of the users who didn’t participate as much before are really coming out of their shell. I think we have really started to stand up to internet trolls and I think we have made a lot of progress where that is concerned and I hope that continues.
Harold: Tell us about the favorite thing you've seen on Fanpop in the past week.
Temptasia: My favorite thing that was contributed in the last week is the icon series that link made for me. Here are the links:
link
link
link
Harold: Tell us your favorite joke.
Temptasia: "You know Christmas is a weird holiday. It sounds like the behavior of a drunk guy. A woman walks into the living room, 'Honey why is there a tree in the living room?' and the guy replies in a drunk voice, 'I like it - we’re going to decorate it for Jesus. I am going to hang my socks above the fire and fill them with candy and then hang some leaves from the ceiling and see if I can get some action. Merry Christmas! Now I am going to go puke on the couch.'” –link
Harold: You're big in the link. Do you have a favorite Christmas memory that you'd like to share? Please do, if so...
Temptasia: My Grandpa just died in November and all of my favorite Christmas memories are of my whole family coming over to his house (in all there are usually 50-60 people) and him playing Santa and the little kids were the elves and we would bring him the presents to hand out to everyone. He is the greatest man I have ever known. He always had something nice to say to everyone and he welcomed everyone into his house with open arms. You could stay there for a week and when you left he would say, “Come back when you can stay longer.”
Harold: You created the link back in September 2007. What, then, has been the best film you've seen recently? What about your top five films ever?
Temptasia: The best movie I have seen recently is Jumper. I really wish they would have made it longer because there were so many plot lines that they could have explored.
Top 5 films ever:
1. Dream for an Insomniac
2. The Jacket
3. Identity
4. The Game
5. 12 Angry Men
Temptasia has been a frequent contributor to the link since its creation by link in August 2007. Many of the users I spoke to about her also commented on how nice she is. link wrote: "I like the way Temptasia's always friendly and never seems to be in a bad-mood it's like she just brightens up the day! And I like that anyone on Fanpop who has met her in real has nothing but good to say about her."
Harold: What does "being nice" mean to you?
Temptasia: Well to me it means striving to be as close to Jesus as I can be. He was perfect in every way. Before I say anything I try to think if God would be proud of me saying that, and if I can’t say yes then I don’t say it or I try to rephrase it so that it is as inoffensive as
possible. I try to treat others with kindness and love even if they do not treat me that way in return. I try to love everyone as God does.
Harold: Some fans are so excited about a particular film - or they've watched it so many times - that they can recite all the lines of dialogue, et cetera. Are there any films which you know by heart like that?
Temptasia: There are about a thousand kid’s movies I can do that with, because that is essentially all we watch around here J
But as far as adult movies go here is the list:
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (I used to watch it everyday after high school)
Napoleon Dynamite
Anchorman
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Any Episode of "The Office" (I’ve seen each 10-15 times)
Office Space
Harold: Of all your contributions, of what are you most proud?
Temptasia: I am most proud of my link. I am especially proud of the one call “link” If there is one thing that I wish wasn’t a part of Fanpop it is the slanderous comments and people trying to start arguments for no reason. Internet trolls suck!
Harold: What has been the biggest surprise for you in your life?
Temptasia: My biggest surprise was when I found out that I got the Presidential Scholarship at Boise State University. It was funny because they didn’t tell me in my acceptance letter. I didn’t find out until much later that I had even gotten it.
Harold: What did you study at University?
Temptasia: I went to North Idaho College my Senior Year of high school and the following year and got my Associates of Science from there. There I was a part of 3 different choirs and took a ton of acting classes. Then I went to Boise State University for a year there I was the President
of 2 of the dorms on campus. Then I went back to NIC for a semester and that is when I got pregnant.
Harold: Your fans know that you've appeared in a number of stage plays, as well as creating the link in August 2007. Are you still performing in any capacity? What was your favorite role?
Temptasia: I haven’t acted in quite a while. I was attending Boise State University as a theatre major but I got pregnant before I could finish my degree, but that was a blessing anyway because now I have a beautiful wonderful daughter. I was going down a really dangerous path with my life and when I got pregnant I had to totally change my life which was a blessing because if I would have continued down that path who knows where I would be now. I always tell Shaylie that she is an angel that God sent from heaven to save me. I truly believe that with all my heart. As far as my favorite roles I would say they are Wendy in "Peter Pan", Becky Thatcher in "Tom Sawyer", Lydia in "Pride and Prejudice", and Lucy in "You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown". I am actually planning on post a couple videos of me singing I just need to find the karaoke versions of a couple of songs J
Harold: Would you prefer to act on stage, on television or in film? Do you gravitate more toward comedy or drama in your performances?
Temptasia: Well out of all of these I would have to say I love acting on stage the most. I love it because every performance is different. Also there is no safety net. I mean if someone forgets a line it is the job of everyone else to help keep the show running. They can't just say cut and try it over. I think that is why acting troupes are so close. They have to completely rely on each other.
Harold: Of all the roles in existing plays, what one role would you really like to play that you haven't?
Temptasia: I have always wanted to do Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet". I think I still could too. I mean I do look really young for my age... however I do feel the time is running out where I could pass for a 16 year old.
Harold: What music are you listening to these days?
Temptasia: My current favorite songs are:
"link"- Taylor Swift
"link" - Colbie Caillat
"link" - Sean Kingston
"link" - James Blunt
"link" - Daniel Bedingfield
"link" - Natalie
Harold: What are your favorite songs to sing, and which song(s) do you sing best (if there's a difference)?
Temptasia: I love Broadway songs. One of my favorites is "link" from Les Mis. I also love to sing pop. Any of link songs I can sing really well. Some of my favorites to sing that are on the radio now are "link" by Fergie, "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillat, and "Teardrops on My Guitar" by Taylor Swift.
Harold: Which languages do you speak?
Temptasia: link and a minute amount of link.
Harold: Tell us your favorite expression.
Temptasia: Probably the one that is currently my motto. “If someone sneezes I say, "God bless you." not "Bless you." because I can't do that. I am not the Lord!" - link
Harold: If you could have lunch with 3 other users whom you do not know in real life already, which would you choose and why?
Temptasia: link- Because he is so sweet and he is the creator the best website in the world.
JohnMinh- Because he is so sweet and caring. He is also very very funny.
Harold – (no I am not trying to suck up!) Think this because we are both married with kids and I think we would get along really well.
Harold: Do you have a favorite food and/or drink? If so, what are they?
Temptasia: Favorite Drink- Caramel Frappuccino from link
Favorite Food- Crab with melted butter
Harold: So at this hypothetical lunch, we'd be eating at a seafood restaurant, then? I've never tried crab yet. I was down on seafood for many years - a motto that never quite became one of Harold's Rules" was "If it comes from the sea, it's not for me", but I have relaxed in that stance in recent years. It helped to have some wonderful scallops in Boston. Too bad scallops really aren't served much where I live.
Temptasia: I am not a huge fan of scallops, so I can say that if you liked those you will definitely LOVE crab. It is wonderful cold with melted butter to dip it in.
Harold: What would you like to see on Fanpop in 2008?
Temptasia: I would like to see a system with the medals where as you get closer to the next medal up your medal slowly starts changing the color of the next medal up. I just think that would be cool because then you would be able to know how close you are to medaling up.
Harold: Describe your life philosophy.
Temptasia: “Be joyful always; pray continually.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25
chel1395 wrote: "Temp is a truly kind person. People use the word "nice" or "kind" too often sometimes and it can lose its meaning. However, in Temp's case, she actually emits kindness and generousity. There is never any malicious intent in her comments and she goes above and beyond to welcome new Fanpoppers. I've heard many times people saying that Temp was the first person to give them a prop or send them a message right after they joined Fanpop. In real life, she is a mother and that "motherly affection" seems to come across on Fanpop. She always seems to think the best of everyone and she is, without a doubt, one of my favorite Fanpoppers. I've never even met her in person, but I still consider her a friend. You see, Fanpop is not just about submitting content and getting medals and props. Fanpop is a community and Temptasia is one of the biggest hearts of our little family."
Harold: I had the idea of using some word association and/or binary choices (ocean, or mountains?) to fill out this interview, but in the interests of sparing the readers I will forgo those. Any last thing you'd like to add?
Temptasia: Nothing I can think of. Thanks for taking the time to interview me!
Thank you to Temptasia and for all the users who responded to my inquiries for this article.
I first became aware of Temptasia back in May 2007 from her activity in the link, though it wasn't until later, when she became a regular poster to the link and link spots, that I had a lot of interaction with her.
In talking to other users about Temptasia, there was one constant in everyone's comments: here is a woman universally admired for her positive and friendly interactions with the Fanpop community.
link wrote: "As you know Fanpop is great because of the friendly community here. I've met a bunch of nice people on here who are kind and helpful. Temptasia was one of the first people that I met on Fanpop that embodied the friendly and open spirit that is Fanpop. She definitely helps to foster that spirit and attitude around here. That's what makes Fanpop different than all the other sites."
Back in January of this year, I started interviewing most of the Fan of the Fortnight recipients, including Temptasia. The following is adapted from a Q&A series from January and early March.
Harold: Thank you for agreeing to this little interview. To start, would you describe how you discovered Fanpop?
Temptasia: I discovered Fanpop while looking for a place to watch full episodes of "link." I saw the picks that are alongside the videos and couldn't help but answer them. That is when I decided to join. At first I didn't participate actively, but after a couple of month I was hooked.
Harold: What would surprise other Fanpop users to learn about you?
Temptasia: Hopefully it wouldn't be too surprising, but one thing that many users might not know about me is that I am a Christian. I live for God and to do his work. I try to show God's love in everything I do and to everyone I know. Also, I have a hidden talent, which is the ability to sound like a Pterodactyl. I would have to say it is pretty amazing.
Harold: There's a charge of support that one gets from one's church community that really stokes the fires for God, don't you think?
Temptasia: Yes, I am a member of a wonderful church. It has been kind of hard for me because my husband is not a Christian although he has been coming with me lately. I also have recently gone through training and become a member of the nursery staff. I help with the four year old class. It is truly beautiful to see them dancing around and singing praise to our Lord. I also love that our church puts a strong emphasis on making sure they know that God loves them and put them here on the earth for a very specific purpose. I think that is a wonderful way to make a child feel important and loved. No matter what else is going on in their life, I think it is important they know that God’s love is something they can always count on. I completely agree with the fact that church really stokes the fires for God. Since I have gotten involved with this church it has completely changed my life. It has really shown me that God is working in my life all the time and it is helping me see the very specific purpose he has put me on this Earth. God built us to be in relationship with others and he calls us to maintain a fellowship with other believers. It helps keep us strong and focused on him.
Harold: How did you find that you could sound like a pterodactyl?
Temptasia: I lose my voice all the time because I talk soooo much. One time when I had lost my voice I was just playing around making screeching noises and realized that it sounded like a Pterodactyl. Then I just figured out how to reproduce that sound with my normal voice. If you want I can make a video of it and put it up :P
Harold: Aside from you, what is noteworthy about your home town?
Temptasia: Ummm... aside from nothing... Nothing. No, really, my home town is absolutely gorgeous. It is surrounded by water and trees. It is a tourist town. There are literally cliffs which you can dive off of straight into a beautiful glistening lake.
Harold: You know I'm imagining huge cliffs like they have in the tropics. In fact, my whole concept of cliff diving is informed by tropical imagery, which makes it difficult for me to picture people in your neck of the woods diving without wearing hibiscus blooms...
Temptasia: Here are a couple of pictures that should help you visualize it. These are pictures of the place we cliff dive:
link
link
link
Harold: What is your favorite little-known Fanpop spot?
Temptasia: Well, it depends on what you mean by little-known" I am going to say under 100 members, which would make my favorite "little-known" spot the link. I absolutely love that show. I literally have rituals I perform on Wednesday night to prepare. I my kids to bed and I get a my favorite bowl of link and enjoy the show. I also Fanpop while I watch in case I think of a good pick to make about the show.... lol
Harold: Would you let any of your kids participate in such a show, if one were on in a few years' time?
Temptasia: My initial reaction would be to say no because I am very over protective parent. I mean, I have trouble leaving my kids at my mom’s house overnight…lol! But I guess it would really depend on the maturity of the child I was considering sending. I would like to think that I will have instilled strong Christian values in my children so I won’t have to worry about the things they would choose to do. However, what worries me is the lack of supervision and some of the things that happened on the first season (e.g. kids drinking bleach, grease burns, etc…). I think to make a proper decision I would really need to know exactly how much supervision they actually get and at what point the adults actually step in to prevent a potentially dangerous situation.
Harold: You talked about being overprotective, but possibly my favorite picture on all Fanpop is this one. How did you manage to snap that without flipping out? If I wanted a picture like that of Lucia, I'd have to both toss her and take the picture...my wife would never be calm enough to watch that.
Temptasia: LOL well, it was actually really hard for me, but I trust my husband I know that he would never do anything that could possibly harm our children. And in all of his craziness he had yet to drop a baby.
Harold: Describe your favorite place.
Temptasia: My favorite place is anywhere where I can be on Fanpop. I guess maybe the best place to Fanpop would be in a massage chair with my someone massaging my feet or with my feet soaking in hot water.... as long as I didn't drop my laptop into the water :P
Harold: If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
Temptasia: I would go to the 2008 Office Convention. I would absolutely die if I got the opportunity to go.
Harold: On that note, what film/show have you enjoyed recently?
Temptasia: Well, I always enjoy “The Office” and a British show called “link.” But more recently I have learned to enjoy the show “link.” It is probably third on my list of all time favorite shows only following the two aforementioned shows.
Harold: OK, so which is your favorite "Red Dwarf" season? I love the show, but I've never managed to make it through all of the seasons, for whatever reason. My favorite line from the show: "Oh, look! It's Marilyn Monroe!"
Temptasia: It is really hard to say. I like the earlier seasons best. It is hard for me to choose which one because I love the original Holly (Norman Lovett) and he was only in seasons 1, 2, 7, and 8, but I also love Kryten who didn't start appearing until season 3. And the only time these 2 characters appear together is in season 7 and 8 and in those seasons only one of the original writers was still working on the show so those seasons weren’t as funny. So you can see why I am very conflicted ;)
Harold: What would you say is the best stand-alone episode of "The Office"? Say a person could only watch one episode, which one would you choose to adequately represent to that person what you hold most dear about the program?
Temptasia: First of all I want to say my FAVORITE Episode is "link" (Season 2 Episode 12). It is by far the funniest episode. However, it doesn't do justice to a few of the key elements of the show (the Jim and Pam relationship and pranking). So instead I chose "link" (Season 2 Episode 22). This is not one of my favorite episodes, but it displays all of the important office relationships (Jim and Pam, Michael and Dwight). It also shows the pranks that go on in the office, however not the funniest ones. But hey, let's face it, there is not a bad episode of "The Office". I think that this is the best episode to introduce all of the characters and really represent all aspects of the show.
Harold: When were you happiest in your life? When were you the most scared?
Temptasia: My happiest moments were just after giving birth to my children. Holding a new baby for the first time is an amazing experience. When my son was born the first he grabbed my face and just stared at me. It was the sweetest moment of my life. I was most scared when I found out I was pregnant and I had to tell my parents. Which didn’t really end up being that bad.
Harold: What's the best thing about having kids?
Temptasia: The best part of having kids in my opinion is always having some one to cuddle with and knowing that someone needs you. I love it when I kiss my kids and they giggle. It is as if in that moment they are completely content with their whole world. What an amazing feeling that must be.
Harold: Was there anything unexpected about having kids? Would you care to share any advice for new or expecting parents? What's the hardest thing about parenting multiple kids?
Temptasia: I think the thing that surprised me the most is that I never thought I could love anything or anyone as much as I love my children. After I found out I was pregnant with my son I was very worried that I would never be able to love him as much as I love my daughter but the minute he was born I did. My favorite memory with him is when they handed him to me when he was just born he looked right at my face and he reached up with his balled up little fists and put them on my face looking straight at me. I think that was the best moment of my life.
Another frequent comment that other users had about Temptasia was how touched they are by her relationship with her children, and many mentioned the great pictures she has of them.
link wrote: "I know Tarah personally, we've been friends for almost 3 years now and she never stops to amaze me. Shes a great mother that spends time with her children, teaching them and caring for them, making sure they are safe. She is very smart. She knows how to talk with people and make them feel better, and shes there if you need her for help. She doesn't make you feel like you are dumb or small, to her you are equal. Tarah is a wonderful person, mother and friend."
Harold: For the record, would you tell us about your kids and how old they are?
Temptasia: Shaylie is 2 ½ and Shadd is 16 months. Shaylie is amazingly smart for her age. Most people are astounded by her knowledge and comprehension. She also has a amazing regard and bond with her little brother. Whenever she gets something she makes sure Shadd gets it too. She also loves to comfort people. Just today I broke my favorite coffee mug and she hugged me and said, "It is OK mama, we will buy you another one. Are you OK?" It was the sweetest thing ever. Shadd is a mama's boy. He is the best snuggler in the world and he still has new baby smell, you know what I am talking about :) He is incredibly strong. He started pulling himself to sitting at 2 months! He was walking by 8 months. He is also incredibly smart. He said his first word the day after he turned 5 months old. Every day he amazes me with the amount of love he has for me and my daughter. For me it has been extremely challenging being a stay at home mom to two children, especially ones that are so close in age, because they are both still so needy. However, I have been blessed with 2 very intelligent and sweet children, and just one of their smiles makes all of the hard work worth it.
Harold: What did you do online before you found Fanpop?
Temptasia: Before Fanpop I spent a lot of time on link which I consider to be a waste of time now. I probably only check my Myspace once a month now.
Harold: Why do you think people chose you as Fan of the Fortnight?
Temptasia: People who are using their imagination to make Fanpop a better place. For me I find it easy to add thousands of images, but people who add well thought-out soapbox articles and inventive picks are the people who I look up to. Also I choose people who are friendly and kind
to other users. If I feel as if there is someone on Fan of the Fortnight that deserves it more than anyone else yet they do not treat other users with respect and kindness I will not choose them. To me this is the main factor I use to make my decision.
Harold: So do you think that people used similar criteria when selecting you as Fan of the Fortnight twice last year? Or do you think there were specific contributions that they appreciated in voting for you at those specific times?
Temptasia: I would like to think so. I mean I try my best to be a productive and positive member of Fanpop. Recently I have strived more than anything to help out new users and encourage users. Since I have been on Fanpop I have taken a particular interest in writing soapboxes. I put a lot of work and thought into them. I hope that these are some of the reasons that people chose me as Fan of the Fortnight.
User comments on Temptasia's contributions didn't narrow this down any further, as admiration for her content was all over the map. rookyboy writes: "She is one of my fav fanpoppers who adds so many of the things i love to watch. I hope she keeps it up." Crazy-Chica adds: "She is nice, funny, and makes many good picks.", and Cinders says: "I've seen a bunch of the icons she's added everywhere, they're fantastic."
Harold: Name your favorite fictional character and explain a little why you chose him/her.
Temptasia: Frankie from “link.” She is such a strong woman who always speaks her mind. She is so smart and always has the perfect thing to say, and because of this she gets the guy of her dreams. Plus she has my dream occupation which is being an actress.
Harold: Name your favorite historical figure and explain a little why you chose him/her.
Temptasia: For me this is the easiest question of all. Jesus for many reasons. One because he gave his life for us so that we can live eternally with him and God in heaven. Secondly because he is perfect. He was sinless. Honestly I don’t know anyone who could compete with that.
Harold: What are you reading these days?
Temptasia: The book of Romans in the Bible.
Harold: How has Fanpop evolved since May 2007?
Temptasia: I think in the last 6 months I have seen a change in the demeanor on this site. I feel like we have gained a ton of quality members. I feel as though a lot of the users who didn’t participate as much before are really coming out of their shell. I think we have really started to stand up to internet trolls and I think we have made a lot of progress where that is concerned and I hope that continues.
Harold: Tell us about the favorite thing you've seen on Fanpop in the past week.
Temptasia: My favorite thing that was contributed in the last week is the icon series that link made for me. Here are the links:
link
link
link
Harold: Tell us your favorite joke.
Temptasia: "You know Christmas is a weird holiday. It sounds like the behavior of a drunk guy. A woman walks into the living room, 'Honey why is there a tree in the living room?' and the guy replies in a drunk voice, 'I like it - we’re going to decorate it for Jesus. I am going to hang my socks above the fire and fill them with candy and then hang some leaves from the ceiling and see if I can get some action. Merry Christmas! Now I am going to go puke on the couch.'” –link
Harold: You're big in the link. Do you have a favorite Christmas memory that you'd like to share? Please do, if so...
Temptasia: My Grandpa just died in November and all of my favorite Christmas memories are of my whole family coming over to his house (in all there are usually 50-60 people) and him playing Santa and the little kids were the elves and we would bring him the presents to hand out to everyone. He is the greatest man I have ever known. He always had something nice to say to everyone and he welcomed everyone into his house with open arms. You could stay there for a week and when you left he would say, “Come back when you can stay longer.”
Harold: You created the link back in September 2007. What, then, has been the best film you've seen recently? What about your top five films ever?
Temptasia: The best movie I have seen recently is Jumper. I really wish they would have made it longer because there were so many plot lines that they could have explored.
Top 5 films ever:
1. Dream for an Insomniac
2. The Jacket
3. Identity
4. The Game
5. 12 Angry Men
Temptasia has been a frequent contributor to the link since its creation by link in August 2007. Many of the users I spoke to about her also commented on how nice she is. link wrote: "I like the way Temptasia's always friendly and never seems to be in a bad-mood it's like she just brightens up the day! And I like that anyone on Fanpop who has met her in real has nothing but good to say about her."
Harold: What does "being nice" mean to you?
Temptasia: Well to me it means striving to be as close to Jesus as I can be. He was perfect in every way. Before I say anything I try to think if God would be proud of me saying that, and if I can’t say yes then I don’t say it or I try to rephrase it so that it is as inoffensive as
possible. I try to treat others with kindness and love even if they do not treat me that way in return. I try to love everyone as God does.
Harold: Some fans are so excited about a particular film - or they've watched it so many times - that they can recite all the lines of dialogue, et cetera. Are there any films which you know by heart like that?
Temptasia: There are about a thousand kid’s movies I can do that with, because that is essentially all we watch around here J
But as far as adult movies go here is the list:
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (I used to watch it everyday after high school)
Napoleon Dynamite
Anchorman
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Any Episode of "The Office" (I’ve seen each 10-15 times)
Office Space
Harold: Of all your contributions, of what are you most proud?
Temptasia: I am most proud of my link. I am especially proud of the one call “link” If there is one thing that I wish wasn’t a part of Fanpop it is the slanderous comments and people trying to start arguments for no reason. Internet trolls suck!
Harold: What has been the biggest surprise for you in your life?
Temptasia: My biggest surprise was when I found out that I got the Presidential Scholarship at Boise State University. It was funny because they didn’t tell me in my acceptance letter. I didn’t find out until much later that I had even gotten it.
Harold: What did you study at University?
Temptasia: I went to North Idaho College my Senior Year of high school and the following year and got my Associates of Science from there. There I was a part of 3 different choirs and took a ton of acting classes. Then I went to Boise State University for a year there I was the President
of 2 of the dorms on campus. Then I went back to NIC for a semester and that is when I got pregnant.
Harold: Your fans know that you've appeared in a number of stage plays, as well as creating the link in August 2007. Are you still performing in any capacity? What was your favorite role?
Temptasia: I haven’t acted in quite a while. I was attending Boise State University as a theatre major but I got pregnant before I could finish my degree, but that was a blessing anyway because now I have a beautiful wonderful daughter. I was going down a really dangerous path with my life and when I got pregnant I had to totally change my life which was a blessing because if I would have continued down that path who knows where I would be now. I always tell Shaylie that she is an angel that God sent from heaven to save me. I truly believe that with all my heart. As far as my favorite roles I would say they are Wendy in "Peter Pan", Becky Thatcher in "Tom Sawyer", Lydia in "Pride and Prejudice", and Lucy in "You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown". I am actually planning on post a couple videos of me singing I just need to find the karaoke versions of a couple of songs J
Harold: Would you prefer to act on stage, on television or in film? Do you gravitate more toward comedy or drama in your performances?
Temptasia: Well out of all of these I would have to say I love acting on stage the most. I love it because every performance is different. Also there is no safety net. I mean if someone forgets a line it is the job of everyone else to help keep the show running. They can't just say cut and try it over. I think that is why acting troupes are so close. They have to completely rely on each other.
Harold: Of all the roles in existing plays, what one role would you really like to play that you haven't?
Temptasia: I have always wanted to do Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet". I think I still could too. I mean I do look really young for my age... however I do feel the time is running out where I could pass for a 16 year old.
Harold: What music are you listening to these days?
Temptasia: My current favorite songs are:
"link"- Taylor Swift
"link" - Colbie Caillat
"link" - Sean Kingston
"link" - James Blunt
"link" - Daniel Bedingfield
"link" - Natalie
Harold: What are your favorite songs to sing, and which song(s) do you sing best (if there's a difference)?
Temptasia: I love Broadway songs. One of my favorites is "link" from Les Mis. I also love to sing pop. Any of link songs I can sing really well. Some of my favorites to sing that are on the radio now are "link" by Fergie, "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillat, and "Teardrops on My Guitar" by Taylor Swift.
Harold: Which languages do you speak?
Temptasia: link and a minute amount of link.
Harold: Tell us your favorite expression.
Temptasia: Probably the one that is currently my motto. “If someone sneezes I say, "God bless you." not "Bless you." because I can't do that. I am not the Lord!" - link
Harold: If you could have lunch with 3 other users whom you do not know in real life already, which would you choose and why?
Temptasia: link- Because he is so sweet and he is the creator the best website in the world.
JohnMinh- Because he is so sweet and caring. He is also very very funny.
Harold – (no I am not trying to suck up!) Think this because we are both married with kids and I think we would get along really well.
Harold: Do you have a favorite food and/or drink? If so, what are they?
Temptasia: Favorite Drink- Caramel Frappuccino from link
Favorite Food- Crab with melted butter
Harold: So at this hypothetical lunch, we'd be eating at a seafood restaurant, then? I've never tried crab yet. I was down on seafood for many years - a motto that never quite became one of Harold's Rules" was "If it comes from the sea, it's not for me", but I have relaxed in that stance in recent years. It helped to have some wonderful scallops in Boston. Too bad scallops really aren't served much where I live.
Temptasia: I am not a huge fan of scallops, so I can say that if you liked those you will definitely LOVE crab. It is wonderful cold with melted butter to dip it in.
Harold: What would you like to see on Fanpop in 2008?
Temptasia: I would like to see a system with the medals where as you get closer to the next medal up your medal slowly starts changing the color of the next medal up. I just think that would be cool because then you would be able to know how close you are to medaling up.
Harold: Describe your life philosophy.
Temptasia: “Be joyful always; pray continually.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25
chel1395 wrote: "Temp is a truly kind person. People use the word "nice" or "kind" too often sometimes and it can lose its meaning. However, in Temp's case, she actually emits kindness and generousity. There is never any malicious intent in her comments and she goes above and beyond to welcome new Fanpoppers. I've heard many times people saying that Temp was the first person to give them a prop or send them a message right after they joined Fanpop. In real life, she is a mother and that "motherly affection" seems to come across on Fanpop. She always seems to think the best of everyone and she is, without a doubt, one of my favorite Fanpoppers. I've never even met her in person, but I still consider her a friend. You see, Fanpop is not just about submitting content and getting medals and props. Fanpop is a community and Temptasia is one of the biggest hearts of our little family."
Harold: I had the idea of using some word association and/or binary choices (ocean, or mountains?) to fill out this interview, but in the interests of sparing the readers I will forgo those. Any last thing you'd like to add?
Temptasia: Nothing I can think of. Thanks for taking the time to interview me!
Thank you to Temptasia and for all the users who responded to my inquiries for this article.