Lessons from a jerk...

Let's cut to the chase -- The jerk client I blogged about late last week and I are parting ways.  THANK G*D and GOOD RIDDENS!  In fact, it couldn't have happened in a more timely way, or in a nicer-smelling way.  I accomplished what they paid me to do in an initial engagement.  What we didn't do was continue together down the path I laid-out.

(In the interest of fairness, I'm not calling my point of contact a jerk, whatsoever, and, if anyone was a jerk it would be the people he reports to, and I'm not saying they're jerks either, just acting like jerks.)

(Furthermore, while this post seems like it's about a client, it's really not.  It's really about what I learned, and the path I took to get there.  The client is just the "vehicle" for that journey.)

Warning: This post covers a lot of ground.  I'm mostly writing it to explore some ideas and thoughts.

Several interesting observations about myself (hey -- it's my blog) come up from this:

All-the-while last week, I had a feeling that things were not what they "should" (whatever that means) be; but, I was conflicted between I know this is true to the core of my being! and am I making stuff up?  The feeling I had was so strong that it felt like I was experiencing extra-sensory perception.  Like I was tapping into a metaphysical truth in a way I couldn't explain. 

Some might call this nothing more than thin-slicing -- which I've learned I'm really frakking good at in many ways in many subjects.  But this good with people?  And, with such little to go on?

One observation during the week was an "inexplicable" inability for me to communicate with at least one of the two bosses.  *Nothing* I said got through.  I then made certain to pay very close attention to that person whenever I spoke, either to that person or to others.  I glanced their way when I spoke and what I observed was nothing short of bewildering to me.  The moment I opened my mouth, the facial expression was one of "what the f--- is he saying?"  At one point this boss turned to my POC and said, "I have no idea what he just said."  But, it didn't matter what I was saying, this person had already written me off!  But why?

Let's combine that with some warning signs I noted along the way prior to last week's meetings (without analyzing them here):

• Communication was a serious issue that appeared several times right from the start.  (Ex.1. I mentioned I had some time in August to help them.  Without asking me when or telling me their plans, they assumed I'd be available whenever they needed, then gave me a week's notice for dates I'd already committed to another client.  Ex.2. There was a misunderstanding of tasks in my SOW, but rather than discussing them with me, they interpreted the misunderstanding to their advantage, then tried to hold me to account for not following-through.)
• The SOW for me to start the next phase was sitting on the VP's desk with no progress for weeks.
• Despite the "high priority" nature of the project we were on, the VP and the deputy boss could not make time to participate full-time in earlier meetings that set the direction of the project, and continued to be "checked-out" at times throughout last week's meetings.
• In a recent conference call, the VP was literally freaked out at what was being realized as a lot of work -- despite having just laid-out the plan with their involvement... as though that planning session never happened.
• The POC kept having to run interference.  Kept having to play diplomat (not between me and the bosses, but between where the bosses heads were at the current point-in-time and where the same bosses heads were at a previous point-in-time).
• The POC seemed to placate and be entirely powerless to stand up for what's the right thing to do.

There was more than just the feeling itself, but how I was responding/reacting to the feeling and the detail with which I could really articulate the likely issues, why they were happening, and what I could/couldn't do about them (either then or should have done in the past).  Also, what came up for me was blunt-force-trauma-strength validation that I was now seeing the "fruits" of observations I had made (and did nothing about) as many as 4 months ago!

At the end of the week, my top three thoughts were, there are issues with either:

• Budget.
• Personality mismatch between me and the "bosses".  And,
• Missed/Unmet expectations.

As it turns out I was right on all three. 

For those of you who may think that I'm writing this with 20/20 hindsight, I have proof.  The blog entry late last week came from knitting together Tweets from back then.  Since the Tweets were nearly real-time, and the blog entry came later, you can see my Tweets express these thoughts and today's conversations validated them.  With Twitter's limited character count, I put down whatever came first to mind and highest-priority.  In other words, based on intuition (or whatever) I'd nailed what were later revealed as issues.

Here's how it played out:

Earlier this evening I spoke to my POC and in telling me they're not going past this engagement, he offered some "feedback" which included his summary of his bosses' main issue with me as being one of "differences in style and personality", and they were going to look for someone whose personality and style fit their way of working more closely.  Specifically, that they didn't think I was "engaged" enough and that my "multi-tasking" was keeping me from participating.

*FAIL*!  *FAIL*!  *FAIL*!
My B.S. meter went off immediately. 
This was a cover-up for something else. 

At the risk of being *way* conceited, anyone who knows me (or reads my blogs, or has worked with me, learned from me, attended speeches I've delivered, or reads the recommendations on LinkedIn) would know that if you can't get along with me, it's NOT me!

But, that's not the reason for the "fail" and the B.S. meter maxing out.  It's because this was just a B.S. excuse!  You can't blame a difference of personality on multi-tasking! 

In full disclosure, last week was a very tough week at the client.  The meetings were very challenging.  Despite the fact that the meetings were playing out pretty much exactly as me and my POC had planned them -- the "heavy lifting" that was going on was both expected and necessary -- the biggest distractions to the meeting were the two bosses.  Often requiring that we educate them on matters they were not needed to be experts in before allowing the conversation to proceed.  Often asserting their expectation of technological decisions/solutions before any of the intermediate steps were fleshed out.  Frequently bringing up questions that were answered over a month ago at an event specifically designated to address the questions and get their input and approval on.  It would be one thing if they wanted to revisit those decisions and had new input to consider, but that wasn't happening.  Instead they were in need of being brought up to speed as though they weren't at last month's meeting!

So, despite the challenges, despite the distractions, despite the additional scope, the meeting executed as planned and achieved the desired outcomes.  So, if my multi-tasking was detrimental to the meetings, there was no evidence of it.  To the contrary, my not commandeering the meeting was all part of the meeting design.  The participants needed to "own" the outcome.  It couldn't be viewed as "the consultant's creation." 

The purpose of the three days of meetings was to bring together and involve a set of people that had never worked together before, have them come to agreement, put them all "on the same page," and to move them from point "A" to point "B" in not-even three days.

In other words, we were going to do something that had never been done before at this company and those of us involved in planning (and eventually executing) knew it would be hard work.  We told the leadership it would be hard work.  And we told them they needed to be visible and support the effort or we risk losing staff-level buy-in.  We knew we were starting off with a meeting that would be hard work and we knew the work beyond the meeting would be hard work.  But we did it.  The meeting got done what needed to get done and (almost) everyone was on board with the hard work ahead and was looking forward to the benefits that work would bring.

Unfortunately (well, really, fortunately), the work of the meeting was far harder than either of the bosses expected, and, this meeting proved that the effort was really truly going to take the time and resources we said it would take.  And, well, that was just not what the bosses wanted.  They were not on board.

You see, months ago, I told the VP interviewing me that I would get them where they wanted to go.  This person subsequently construed that I had some magic pill into which all the "hard work" required to get there would be stuffed, and that the "hard work" would somehow be consumed (thanks to the magic pill) without any real work, real time, or real cost.

This person simply believed we could -- to invoke my favorite metaphor -- lose weight, gain muscle and be in world-champion shape without getting off the couch or giving up pizza, Twinkies® and beer meals twice a day.  That we could (somehow) transform a bloated set of ill-fitting limitedly used processes into lean, broadly applicable, widely adopted minimal process effortlessly.  As if miniaturizing anything has ever been easy!  Whether electronics, writing, or processes, big and bloated is far easier than tight and concise!  (Just look at this post!)

Amazing that this person not only started and owned a successful company, but sold it, did well, and became a VP in the company that bought it!  What ever happened to the lessons people learn when starting up their company?  Maybe they never learned any lessons.  Maybe it was "too easy" and due to certain timing and other circumstances, they never really had to worry too much about anything harder than top-line growth.

Had last week's meetings been less bumpy.  Had the "process" we followed been less abstract.  Had all the answers we identified been easy, airy, light and bubbly, my "multi-tasking" would not have even been noticed!  The facts are, this was tough stuff and the leadership wanted "easy" not hard.  Facts that they brought with them to the meeting!  They knew, going in, that they weren't happy with me.  They knew, going in, that I was likely done there.  At best, this meeting was a test to see if I could salvage myself in their eyes and "finally" make it make easy sense.  It was just too hard, and it was my fault.  They expected me to come in and make it easy, but that's not what I said I'd do and it's not what I went there to do.

So, what we've covered is that personality was part of the "issues" I was feeling -- even though it was used as a lame excuse about me and my style, it was about the leadership's personality that was being rubbed the wrong way by their petulant whine for things being too hard.  Budget was part of the "issues" because the harder the work, the more budget they needed. 

And, finally, expectations were clearly part of the issues.  In fact, expectations were the only real issue.  And, that one I can, at least, own a little bit of.

I knew within a month or so of getting on contract that the VP to whom I made my pitch had already filtered the "meat" of the conversation and sifted out the bits that were all about the heavy lifting.  I learned that my saying "I have experience and processes to get you there" was later interpreted as, "he has templates and canned procedures that we can copy and force everyone to use," among other variations of that failure of an idea.

What's the lesson?

There are actually many lessons.  One which stands out is that I must.not.ignore my instincts about people. 

If something "smells off" I need to square away with the involved party immediately.  And, I cannot let intermediaries deal with it for me.  If I'm being misrepresented or misunderstood, take it to the source.  And, if an intermediary insists on being the interlocutor -- walk.  Or, if the immediate party insists on my using the interlocutor -- walk.

I learned that when the person calling the shots is disconnected from the person in charge of the work, then going to the person who calls the shots is essential -- to help them be content so that the person charged with doing the work can succeed.

I learned that when I "smell" that someone's expectations are misplaced, I must deal with it personally and quickly.  When it comes to clients, I *really* need to connect with them when the "gold owner" is emitting the smell of unmet expectations.  AND, often, the unmet expectations are due to a twisting of the original expectations which means that revisiting the expectations often is unequivocally required.

I've known these lessons for a long time, but for some reason I was missing the signs of the need to apply them.  Well, that's one way to look at it.  Another way is that in this case I was led away from dealing with the signs because in the end, not having them as a client is for the best, of course. 

Early on, I saw the need for creating a charter.  What I didn't realize then was the need to go back and make sure we're on the same page for whether the charter is even worth the effort.

I'm not sure, in this case, whether any preventive measures would have stuck, would have worked, or would have prevented (rather than merely delayed) the outcome. 

Though, what I can't do is let that sort of thinking be an excuse for stopping me from doing what needs to be done.  Namely, addressing the "smells" of unmet expectations immediately and creating a communication cycle that is frequent and deep.  Especially with those whose expectations call the shots.

What really gets me the most is that there are now at least two people in a very large company that have manufactured a very unfair "position statement" about me.  More importantly, people who my "spidey senses" tell me are highly likely to bad-mouth me on something that really wasn't at issue at all (in reality -- they've made it an issue in their heads as the means to justify their ends). 

Sigh.  In my pursuit of being unstoppable and being the possibility of integrity, authenticity, inspiration and power, I think this is all leading me to what I need to do in a few months:  make an appointment to meet with the VP to clear the air. 

Right now, a huge and growing part of me is saying that doing so is a waste of time because someone who has come this far without the ability to see their role in this outcome is not likely to acquire it any time soon.  (In our exit conversation tonight, the POC indicated that this turn fits earlier patterns.)  Another part of me still isn't sure what the purpose of such a meeting would be.  What do I want from it?  For them to see that this was really all about their immaturity?  No, that won't work. 

So, then, what?

Update from Jerk client...

OK it's past annoying. Client VP brings armful of SWAG for everyone BUT me.  It's *not* the SWAG! It's the thought that counts.

A quick (almost cold on the other end) phone call to my point of contact there reveals something is *definitely* up.  My POC wouldn't get into it, but admitted there's something.

I wonder if it's as simple as Budget?

Or maybe it's a matter of personality?

Missed expectations?

Likely a combination.

Gripe

I'm visiting a client today and due to the unusual nature of having so many members of one team together at once, the leader of this department decided to take as many of the department as available out to dinner.  And, they didn't invite me, which is in many ways OK.  After all, it's not often that they get together and wanting to have the team for a little social is actually good for them.  And, I suppose they might want to discuss a few things that are not appropriate to discuss in front of me. 

Even so, what's not cool is that they openly discussed their dinner plans in front of me after I'd spent all day with them (yesterday too, and again tomorrow).  Another thing that makes this really ookie is that the leaders and many others flew in to be here, so it's not like they could assume I had plans tonite.  I mean, the least they could do would be to tell me something like, "Hey Hillel, we're having a team dinner tonite, and we're really sorry we can't invite you because we want to talk about company stuff that would be hard to do with you around." 

But no, not a single word to me, just talking about dinner, and drinks, and joking about needing a designated driver.  How rude! 

Really, I'm not annoyed about "dinner", I'm annoyed about what it SCREAMS about how they think about my role and what I'm here to do.  To be so openly rude is just something I can't imagine doing unless I were totally clueless or really trying to send a message.  Even then, I wouldn't have the ice in my veins to take that route to send a message.  It's not that I'm a push-over.  If I had to hurt or kill someone to defend myself or my family, I wouldn't even think twice about it. 

But it takes a special brand of cluelessness to be so openly rude.  Seriously, they probably have no clue just how rude they were being.  Again, to be that blindly rude, in my mind, tells me so much about the role I play in their minds. 

Let's assume the most benefit of the doubt -- that they plan to discuss things not appropriate for non-company folks.  So, how hard would it be to do me the courtesy of a polite, "wish we could, but we can't"? 

Like, they see inviting me or telling me I can't come would be like apologizing to the computer for leaving it at the office.  I think that's how they see me.  As a machine full of information that should spit it out when they push "print" rather than the brains behind the success of what they're trying to accomplish.  Because, in reality, if I left, they would be a mess.  And they don't even know it.

My crazy journey home from Argentina.

Those of you who follow me on Twitter, or through various Twitter-originated feeds (like Facebook), you may have gathered that I was in an auto accident.  A pretty bad one, actually, and without even a little bit trying to exaggerate or be dramatic, it really was potentially deadly.  But I was able to (literally) run (not walk) away with only superficial abrasions and a band of bruises across my torso.

I'm not sure how to organize the story, so I'll first just tell the story (mostly) in temporal order, then I'll provide some context.

I was being driven by what we in the 'States would call a "sedan service" from my hotel in Mar del Plata, Argentina to the international airport in Buenos Aires.  The car was what we, here, would call a late-model Toyota Corolla.  (Read here or here if you're wondering why I was in Argentina.)  As I got into the car, I decided to put on my seatbelt, which is something I don't normally do in the back of a car.  But, having witnessed the Argentine driving behaviors, I figured it was probably a good idea.  Especially if I dozed off.

We were just beyond half way into a 4-5 hour drive along entirely pastoral landscape when we could see smoke on the horizon.  As we approached it became clear that the smoke was near the highway.  Then, we saw that the smoke was drifting over the highway on our side from a serious flame-shooting brush fire . 

The driver switched the vents to "recirculate" but we could still smell the smoke.  We slowed down, started into the haze, then suddenly we were in a complete smoke-out.  NOTHING but off-white all around us.

In an instant I was thinking, "Whoa! This could get really bad" and in fact, I had just enough time to say "whoa!", but before I could say anything else, **BAM!**  We'd run into something else pretty hard.

The smoke was so dense we couldn't see what we hit.  I checked the driver he checked on me, we were both OK.  In that moment, more cars were adding themselves to the fray to our left.  I got the door open all-the-while bracing for a possible impact from behind.  I was weighing my options: stay in the car and get hit, get out and get hit while on foot.  

I bailed out of the car.  My first step or two was back from where we came (thinking I had some idea of how far it would be to get out from the smoke) but in an instant I changed direction and started running through the smoke in the direction of travel.  Really, it was more like a running back fake-out.  First one direction, then another.

It took only 5-6 running strides and I popped out into clear-er air.  To my astonishment, the first thing I nearly ran into was a female firefighter with a bewildered/panicked look on her face, and a couple of cops.  WHY THE FRAK HADN'T THEY CLOSED THE FRAKKING HIGHWAY!?

Cars were still screeching and crunching behind me, other passengers and drivers were emerging from the smoke.  A car or two were attempting to avoid the scene by heading into the grassy median.  Presently, a parent was running toward the "authorities" holding a screaming child in their arms.  People were emerging from the wreckage.  One woman was being comforted by a companion.  He left and I saw her go into an uncontrollable shaking.

I gave myself a quick "run up" and found mild surface pain on my right arm and my left shin, and mostly aches all along my left torso.  No bleeding anywhere and no loss of motion in my neck, back, arms or chest.  I already knew my legs worked.  But, I could tell that there would be copious quantities of Ibuprofen in my future.

After the fire nearest the accident was extinguished I went back for my stuff.  Everything was intact and unharmed, and (miraculously) the car was never hit from behind.

The driver called the service he works for, they dispatched a car from Buenos Aires to fetch me, since we were about 2hr from Buenos Aires, and closer to 3 from where we left.

The saga didn't end there.

Not really to my surprise, the 2nd driver arrived late and that's where the real fear started to bubble to the surface.

The shmuck replacement driver shows up... you'd think he or the service would have the presence of mind to grab a couple of bottles of water for me and the other driver... after all, we were standing out there in the 90+ deg sun for at least 2 hours, and the original driver would have to stay behind with his car (remember, it's nearly summer in the southern hemisphere).

To add to the timeline, the second driver seemed to need to be given directions to the airport from the first driver!  A professional driver who doesn't know his way TO THE AIRPORT?!?!  Not only that, but he needed to stop for gas.  That was a small blessing because it allowed me to get a couple of bottles of something to drink for the first time in over 6 hours, 3 of which were out in the sun.  Then he got lost following the 1st driver's directions (which neither wrote down), and seemed to doubled back to a point from which he knew how to get to the airport.  As if that wasn't enough, I'm quite sure he was near-sighted, and he was driving at times at nearly 100mph.

I noted that his A/C didn't work, his gas gage didn't work, my seatbelt was broken (but I got it fastened), and when it got dark he didn't have working primary headlights so that he only had high-beams... At one point, he was passing another car with an oncoming car (also, no lights) right there!  (Which is only possible because the Argentine idea with driving has more to do with road space than lines on the road anyway.)  So, really, in their minds, it didn't matter that we didn't clear the car being passed, the two cars in the lanes just nudged outward to allow all three vehicles to be abreast for a moment, with our car straddling the stripes.

As I said, his driving was more frightening than the initial accident...

I arrived to the airport with MOMENTS to spare and was grateful that the airline even let me on board.  (Let alone to be alive.)

Three of my colleagues from the SEI (also attending the conference) were on my flight and were VERY relieved to see me get on.  They were keeping up with the play-by-play via SMS and spotty mobile connections.  In fact, they were in a car (originally) about an hour behind me, and when they went through the accident scene they saw me and the everyone's astonishment, the driver wouldn't stop to pick me up!

Here's where some context on Argentina comes in:

Most people don't speak English.  Not even those in the "service" industry.  And, when you tell them you don't speak Spanish, they keep talking to you in their warp-speed brand of Spanish anyway.  So when my colleagues' driver wouldn't stop it wasn't also very surprising for them to later decipher (one of them spoke a little Spanish) that he didn't want to stop "and cause another accident".  (B.S.!)

Road signs and surface markings aren't even treated as suggestions.  They're artwork.  Graffiti.  Color commentary.  In other words, they're pretty much ignored.  They drive in a way that make Italians look like completely sane.

Many intersections are COMPLETELY uncontrolled.  No stop signs, no yield signs.  NOTHING.

Non-motorized travel INCLUDING pedestrians have ZERO right-of way.  You must look 20 times in both directions before and as you cross any street because chances are, a vehicle coming towards you is speeding AND ignoring any road signs, traffic lights, and other vehicles, let alone the fact that you are in the middle of the intersection.

Using seatbelts, child car seats, and helmets on motorbikes are an anathema.  A family of three on a motorcycle with a child sandwiched between parents, no one wearing any head protection, was not an uncommon sight.  Motorcycles have just as little right-of-way as pedestrians and bicycles. 

Children sitting in their parent's lap in the front seat of a car (between the parent and the dash) was also a very common sight.  Despite an empty back seat.  I saw several such configurations passing through the accident scene.  Had any one of them been party to the accident, and there'd likely be an entire family structure wiped out in an instant.

As it is, I'm impressed no one was killed in our incident considering how dangerous it was, and, how little regard they have for sensible driving behaviors.

In the end, I'm home, in relative sanity.  And, I can say I was able to run (not walk) away from the scene. 

Come, my darling, Ibuprofen.  Your sweet song calls to me.

My World-Famous semi-poached baked salmon recipe

I've been making my baked salmon recipe for at least 15 years. It hasn't changed hardly at all in all that time. Any significant changes have resulted in comments of "I liked the old way better." So, it's one of those "don't change perfection" sort of things.

I've visited friends and relatives in other parts of the world and they've asked me to make this salmon. When I speak with friends and relatives who've visited us, they routinely mention my salmon.

I refer to this recipe as "semi-poached" because of the water that's involved in the baking. I'm not sure if it's even a correct cooking term or even if the water warrants it being compared to being poached.

Nonetheless, this baked salmon recipe results in a succulent, moist, flavorful and flaky fish and has the power to:

• Reduce non-fish-eaters into beggars and pleaders for this dish.
• Convert vegetarians into "fishitarians" (I didn't do that on purpose! Honest!)
• Attract the taste-buds of picky little kids who normally eat nuggets and hot dogs.
• Encourage your friends to invite themselves over and declare that you are to make this dish for them.
• Drive your relatives to change plans to come over when you invite them for dinner (when you tell them you're making this dish).
• Provoke friends and family to invite you over and either tell you to bring this dish or so you can prepare this dish with their fish.
• Instigate mob mentality when it's your turn to host a dinner party and rather than you being allowed to pick the theme your friends demand that you make your salmon.
• Spoil you forever against any other form of salmon.
• Gain the admiration of bon vivants, epicureans, gastronomes, gourmands, and gourmets in all parts of the world.
• Win the heart of your true love.
  

Each of the above has happened as a result of my salmon. Most more than once.

Whatever your opinion of Costco as a company, farmed fish for health, or Costco farmed fish, the results are undeniable. I've have the best results with the Costco farmed skinless salmon filets.

I've tried this with salmon from Sams as well as local grocery stores. I've tried it with Salmon with the skin on and tried it with previously frozen salmon. The best results are with the skinless salmon filets we get from Costco, when it's baked within 3 days of bringing it home from the store (refrigerated, the whole time, of course).

Using other forms of salmon will likely change the taste. Having said that, it's *still* probably going to be the best baked salmon you'll have made .

Equipment:

• Non-stick baking sheet with at least a 1.5cm (~5/8 inch) lip (glass OK too)
  
• Oven.
  

Ingredients:

• Salmon filet (size/weight varies), try to get one that's at least 2cm (3/4 inches) at its thickest.
• Water (amount varies based on fish and tray size)
  
• Soy Sauce (amount varies based on fish size)
• Old Bay seasoning (here, too)
• Thyme
• Coriander
• Celery Seed (not celery salt)
• Onion Powder (not onion salt)
• Garlic Powder (not garlic salt)
• Spray oil
  

Procedure:

1. Oil-spray baking tray (cookie sheet w/a lip).
   
2. Cover bottom of tray with a layer of "Old Bay" (don't get "Old Bay" in your town? Find a "crab seasoning", or order Old Bay online). Be generous. A good, full, coating. (I usually shake a bunch onto the tray then roll the tray around and tap on the sides to get a nice, even coating over the oil without leaving much oil exposed or seasoning loose on top.)
   
3. Place fish on top of the Old Bay. Be sure to unfold any parts of the fish that may have folded over in the package. If you need to cut the fish to fit it onto the tray, that's fine. Also, you can make more than one fish in the same tray if there's room.
4. Slowly pour cold (tap) water over fish -- so that all parts of the fish get wet and results in to enough water to cover exposed surface of sheet where there's no fish on it. But, don't purposely lift fish to allow water underneath. If some water gets underneath, that's fine, don't sweat it.
5. Lightly pour soy sauce onto fish and rub/spread it on with your hand so that the whole fish has a slight brown color to it. Don't "drown" the fish in the soy (or any other) sauce.
6. Sprinkle (mix & match to taste) the following in this order:
   (Technique tip: hold the various powders about 15-20cm (~6-8 in) above the fish and sprinkle with wide but gentle motions. The idea is to create a very light coating and to cover all areas of the fish with several parts per square inch/cm. Not to "encrust" the fish in any one seasoning.)
   
   • coriander
   • thyme
   • celery seed
   • garlic powder
   • onion powder
     (if you think you "over did it" and the fish looks too covered in stuff now, lightly spray oil on top... serves to disburse the seasonings and help it stick)
7. Bake @ center of oven ~27min @ 325°
   
   NOTES:
   

• If all water bakes off, it's done, but it can still be done even when there's still water left, when I make it, there's usually water left that I pour out when it comes out of the oven.
• This time and temperature are a function of the type of tray, and the thickness of the fish. Glass may take longer, as would thick slabs of fish.
• Decrease the time if you pre-heat the oven.
  
• Increase the time if you want the fish dryer in the center. We like our fish moist and slightly medium rare in the center. HOWEVER, every minute counts towards the end. It doesn't take long to go from "slightly medium rare" to "fully well done".
  

Variations:

• Instead of soy sauce use teriyaki sauce &/or flavored "asian fish oil". You may want to adjust some of the other ingredients to balance the additional flavors.
• We often sprinkle a light coating of ginger powder (doesn't require any other flavor adjustment).
• We also often spring a light coating of dried Rosemary leaves (doesn't require any other flavor adjustment).

Suggestions for left-overs:
(Most of these ideas require little-to-no additional seasonings!)

• Just add mayo and mix for an amazing salmon salad you can use just like tuna salad.
• Crumble into omelets.
• Saute with oil/cream, capers and vodka for a pasta sauce to die for.
• Combine with raw egg (whites-only is fine) and bread-crumbs, form patties and pan-fry (very little/no oil required) for salmon patties.
• Just re-heat in the microwave! Tastes nearly as good as fresh out of the oven!
  

Enjoy and let me know how it goes!

New blog

Well, it's finally happended: I started a real blog. Not this thing here that I barely touch. It will probably spawn a 2nd one very soon as well.

Please visit: http://www.agilecmmi.com.

All the best!

Uh oh ... looks like I'm really blogging now! (*Not!*)

Jacob awoke this afternoon after about 2.25 hrs in a good mood -- I could hear him through the monitor singing Old MacDonald. Then he started asking to "hug eema"... eventually I heard him pull the chain on the light by his bed, then shortly after that he'd made his way to the door and went in search of eema (Jeanne)... I was across the hall so I called him into where I was... he came in asking for Jeanne, I told him she'd be back soon... anyway... the point is that this is the first time since he'd gotton his new firetruck bed that he's gotten himself out of bed and out of the room on his own. My biggest concern is when he starts doing this in the middle of the night... mostly because of the stairs in the dark.

Next... as in, a several minutes later... I hear him plaintiff with Krystle... I smell popcorn so it's probably another sample of Jacob not getting his way... either not saying please (with his voice as opposed to sign-language) or not saying thank you...

So I came to him, picked him up and explained that if he wants popcorn he has to say, "abba popcorn please". Which he did immediately. Then I gave him his popcorn and said to him, "Jacob, when someone gives you something you want you say, 'thank you'." And he said, "thank you".
For that he was rewarded with a big hug and kisses and "very good"s and "proud of you"s...
When his fist-full ran out I said, "if you want more, you have to say 'more popcorn please'." This time he signed *and* said "more popcorn please" which led to another handful reward.
I knew I was pushing it then when I reminded him about saying 'thank you' but I tried anyway. He was over that game by now and I didn't press him for it. But then again, he already had access to the bucket.

Jeanne made me do this...

If you read below, you'd see that I'm not the most avid blogger - - for good reason...
In relaying Jacob's bed-time performance to Jeanne, however, she insisted that I write it up as "my moment".

If you're reading this, you probably already read Jeanne's blog so you know all about Jacob's new "fire engine" bed.

Who ends up on duty to put Jacob to bed is rarely pre-determined -- unless I'm simply not home at all to be part of the process.

Last night I ended up being the one to see Jacob to bed. He was playing nicely... then he discovered the c l o s e t. A few months back we had a simple "wherrrrre's Jacob?" game when he would close himself in the closet then burst out (no jokes, please). So we started off with that game... Not wanting to encourage him to much to work up his adrenaline, I stopped playing... pretty soon he found other games... like taking stuff out of the closet and seeing what he can do with them in his room...

It was soon that he got to the stage where no single item held his attention for more than a few moments when I suggested that it might be time for bed.

The next sequence of events is why Jeanne wanted me to write it up:
- Jacob climbed into his bed on his own.
- I asked if he wanted to turn off the light (the real test of whether he's ready for bed)
- He got up in his bed reached over to the night table and turned off the light and got back prone in bed.
- I gave him his stuffies and blankets.
- And he started to sing Old MacDonald.
- When we got to the part, "and on his farm he had a ____" Jacob filled in what sounded like "pig"... so, at "with a..." Jacob made snorting sounds.... then at the next farm animal, I said "cow" and Jacob made appropriate "moo-moo" sounds...

Normally his bed-time routine of late has been fill bed with toys, turn off lights, hold up to shoulder & song, bed. With his new bed, he's ready to jump in and settle down on his own.

So that was "my bed time moment" -- we sang Old MacDonald.

Maybe someone will explain to me why that was so momentous.
:-)