anyone know how the block signing auction system works? I sent in some BTC but my request is just sitting there along with others even though the pool is finding blocks.
That's probably because the date you have set to sign your message, hasn't been reached yet.
If you have paid for your message, then your message will be incorporated in a block on the date you specified, assuming no one else outbids you on that specific day. Hashnest is currently solving around 40 blocks per day, so the chances to be outbid by (around 40) others that specific day you requested your message to be incorporated, should be quite slim.