I'd be remiss if I didn't post the ultimate reason for my request of a
block altitude

Short video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWA7JCfV6G8 which includes
10 to 15 seconds snippets of my my recent trip to the NE practice area
of KMBO put to music (no ATC).

Not sure if I can think of a better reason for requesting a block
altitude.

Got to say, learned this trick from my IA instructor. Only
difference is that in training, he didn't keep me on top, he put me
right back in the soup. :-D