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The relatively minute amount of cognitive space available in my brain has been suddenly completely occupied with a very burning question.  I have been unable to think of anything else for the last 12 seconds, and feel that this must be addressed.  So I now put forth to you the Question of the Day So Far, which is, "How much time actually passes during the course of the movie Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back?"

If we go by what the movie actually shows, one might suspect that only a few days pass.  But I suspect that in actuality, a rather long time is depicted.  At least six months, maybe much more.  The evidence so far:

1. Ain't no stinkin' way Luke is able to learn even the basics of Jedi Knight-ness in just a few days.  Even given that he has already had some training by his mentor, Sir Obi-Wan Kenobi the Dead, we get the impression that Obi has never actually made an aparitional appearance to Luke-Boy until that fateful morning on Hoth (although it's never actually specifically stated as such - the novelization does more to imply that than the movie).  So how much formal training did Luke receive prior to meeting up with Yoda the Grand and how much is self-study?  I suspect that Luke had an accelerated course with Yoda, but still, I don't believe it could happen in only a few days or even weeks.

2. In Return of the Jedi, Yoda-Man states "No more training do you require.  Already know you, that which you need."  This statement says a lot in its profound, backward sort of way.  It supports the notion that Luke has received the basics of the ways of the Jedi.  At this point, his journey towards mastery is going to be a lot of meditation and practice.  The Jedi Knight series of games supports this thought, as well.  Still, is the way of the Jedi so simple and basic that it only takes a few weeks to learn it?  I don't think so.
3. The Millenium Falcon's hyperdrive is not functional.  This alone means that Han and Company's journey from the Hoth System (where the asteroid field is) to Bespin had to take place solely at sublight speeds.  It is my surmisal that the Falcon's sublight engines have a maximum capability of near light speed.  But even then, the trip to Bespin would have taken quite a bit of time.  Not just a few days or weeks, but far longer than that.  According to several Star Wars galaxy maps that I have researched, Hoth and Bespin are relatively close to each other, from a galactic perspective.  I'd say they're close enough that a trip at near light speed would only take months.  But not days or weeks.

I look forward to any comments on this subject.  I readily admit that yes, I do need a life.  I also hope I can sleep tonight.