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04/26/2007 Entry: "Amy's Interview Meme"

DIRECTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEW MEME

1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

I played along with Amy. Here are her questions for me.

1. You have three beautiful children...how did you and your wife decide on names?

Julia's name came a little by accident. It just fell out of my mouth one day. The Julia part comes from John Lennon's song of the same name. Her middle name, Valentine, comes from a special affinity Susan and I have for Valentine's Day, to include the song My Funny Valentine, a song by Shawn Colvin (see the last verse), a painting by Greg Mort called Valentine, and the fact we were engaged on Valentine's Day, 1993. Julia is also mentioned in the Bible, in Romans. We tossed around Elisabeth a little, but after Julia came up, it was the end of discussion. We both loved it.

The boys were a little harder. For one thing, it takes a special name to sound good with Batty, and harder still to find a good one that hadn't already been used. Zachary Pierce got a little airplay, as did William III. Once Susan told me she'd call William III by the nickname of Trey (or Tre, or Tres), I said "Absolutely not!" When we found out we were having twins, it got worse. Now we have to find TWO good names. My father and my uncle were both born on the same day, one year apart. My uncle was a Jr., and of course I'm a Jr. So we thought perhaps we'd name the boys after my father and my uncle, and have a William Rogers III, and a Thornton Eugene III. We even went far enough to ask my uncle if he'd be ok with it, and he was. Susan, though, just couldn't stand the idea of hollering for "Thornton" to come home for supper. And if I couldn't have a Thornton III, I didn't want a William III. So it didn't pan out.

Susan picked the name Nathaniel. Nathaniel is mentioned in John's gospel, though with a slightly different spelling. (I also think his nickname, Nat, sounds like a great musician's name. "Tonight, on stand-up bass, Nat Batty, ladies and gentlemen, Nat Batty!") His middle name, Lewis, is my maternal grandfather's name, and Susan's paternal grandfather's name (though he spelled his name Louis).

I spent much time trying to figure out Matthew's name. It was the original name I came up with, but I looked around for several weeks to see if I could come up with something else. I couldn't. His middle name is Thornton, named after my uncle, and ultimately my paternal grandfather. Now that he's here, I can't think of him being anything but a Matthew.

Someday, when they're in school, perhaps they'll be known as Matt and Nat Batty. We almost always call them by their given names. Oh, and though we didn't know it then, Nathaniel means "Gift of God," and Matthew means "Gift of the LORD." And, some people believe that the Biblical Nathaniel (who is mentioned only in John) is the same as Bartholomew (who's never mentioned by John). If true, both our boys share the name of an Apostle. Not planned that way, but cool nonetheless.

2. What is your favorite way to eat a potato?

I'll be shorter with this answer! Probably hash browned, dark and delicious. Yum.

3. Share a favorite recipe that you enjoy making.

I'm not much by way of recipes. I'm more of a "wing it" kinda guy. I have found the perfect secret to medium rare steaks on the grill though. Get the grill good and hot. Take well seasoned, room temperature steaks, and throw them over medium high flame. Don't be afraid, and don't turn the grill down too low. Two minutes later, turn the steaks 90 degrees for those delicious looking grill marks. Two minutes later, flip. Two minutes later, turn 90 again. Eight minutes total--that's all! And Susan will tell you how yummy they are.

4. You finally own your fire engine....what do you do with it?

I drive it to work. I take the kids to get ice cream in it. I take it to the beach. I take it to gigs with a drum set in the back. In short, I drive it! Wanna go to the Maine Mall with me? Cool! Let's take the fire truck!

5. What makes a good drummer in your opinion?

It's all about a good groove. It's got to have the right feel. Terry Bozio and Chad Wackerman have all the technique in the world. But I'd way rather hear someone laying down a fat, funky groove any day of the week! They gotta play tasty! Chops are great, but after one listen, I'm like "Yup, they can play." But I don't go listen a second time. I could listen to Papa Don't Take No Mess all day long!

Posted by Amy @ 04/30/2007 11:34 PM EST