I happened to web surf to the FAA web site today and punch in the N-Number I requested a couple of days ago and MY NAME showed up...  I haven't got anything from the FAA yet, but since it is showing up in their system, I can only assume that they accepted my request.

This does not constitute a single rivet being set, but for some reason obtaining this N-Number reservation felt like real progress to eventually having an airplane...  Whoop-De-Dooo!!  COOL!!  It didn't take the FAA even close to the three weeks the web-site said it would.