Just created Ubuntu Azure image, cannot SSH into it

Let me start by saying I am new to Windows Azure. 

Today I created an Ubuntu 12_04 LTS server, followed the directions to create and upload an SSH key during that process, and created an SSH endpoint (public and private at port 22), while deleting the preconfigured endpoint selections (RDP, Powershell) before deploying. 

I followed the steps to convert my private key file to a PPK file with PuttyGen, but when I attempt to connect to the instance with Putty it fails.  Checking the configuration post-deployment, I have the SSH endpoint present.

I'm at a loss.