Of course, I forgot to activate the yeast...

Not a big deal, but I could have saved some time by following the directions in the recipe and activating the yeast at the beginning of this process.

The liquid yeast package has an activator inside the package. You feel around the package to find the activator (a lump within the yeast pack), place a hand over it and smack it to make it break (you will no longer feel a lump). Shake up the yeast to mix in the activator.

In the next 1-3 (or more) hours, the package will swell if the yeast is alive. Cut a corner of the package and pour it into the cooled water waiting in the fermenter. Then pour in the cooled wort ("aggressively" is the advice) to mix.

This is the only time it is good to aerate the beer. Helps the yeast distribute. You could even pour a bit of the wort back into the brew pot and repeat the process (I did).