Sunday, December 31, 2023

Sunday, 12/31/2023

2023 Mileage: 5036.3

Closing the books on 2023 today, I rode this afternoon while watching Solaris again as I did yesterday. It is a most unusual and haunting film.

This gave me a ride of 19.2 virtual miles in 1:32.



       

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Saturday, 12/30/2023

  2023 Mileage: 5017.1

During today's ride, I watched one more haunting science fiction movie—Solaris (2002), a remake of a 1972 film. It was good, and I think I followed it fairly well, but I'm considering rewatching it tomorrow in order to get it more fully.

This gave me a ride of 19.5 virtual miles in 1:34.

It pleased me, too, to reach today the milestone of 5000 miles for the year. It's a step forward from last year (when, embarrassingly, I didn't even finish the year with 4700 miles), but a significant shortfall from 2021, when I inched just over 6000. Oh well! I comfort myself with the feeling that it is still a significant achievement.


       

Friday, December 29, 2023

Friday, 12/29/2023

 2023 Mileage: 4997.6

I am finishing out 2023 with a spate of superb science fiction movies. During this morning's ride, I watched another highly intriguing one, from 2009 (Moon).

This gave me a ride of 18.7 virtual miles in 1:34.


       

Thursday, December 28, 2023

Thursday, 12/28/2023

2023 Mileage: 4978.9

This morning I finished up the outstanding 2015 science fiction movie The Martian (which I had seen in the theater), starring Matt Damon.

This gave me a ride of 14.5 virtual miles in 1:05.


       

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Wednesday, 12/27/2023

  2023 Mileage: 4964.4

Again today, I had to wait until evening to ride, and then we were gone for a good chunk of it, celebrating Christmas with my daughter and granddaughter at their house. Consequently, I settled for a shorter ride than i had first intended, watching the first half of the excellent 2015 science fiction movie The Martian (which I had seen in the theater), starring Matt Damon (and I'll finish it during tomorrow's ride).

This gave me a ride of 16.8 virtual miles in 1:11.


       

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

tuesday, 12/26/2023

 2023 Mileage: 4947.6

I didn't ride on Sunday since it was Christmas Eve and, additionally, I was playing a pair of piano solos at church which kept me busy, and we were hosting a visit from my sister, too. Then yesterday, on Christmas Day, we traveled 75 miles to celebrate with Michelle's family, so I took that day off, too. Staying overnight there and returning to Ann Arbor today, I thought I'd be looking at a third straight day off ... but I managed to work up the gumption to ride tonight.

Returning to my list of recommended science fiction films, I watched the 1998 movie Armageddon, which was intense and gripping, and an entirely satisfying film. Even though it is now a quarter century old, it holds up very well.

This gave me a ride of 31.0 virtual miles in 2:24.




Saturday, December 23, 2023

Saturday, 12/23/2023

2023 Mileage: 4916.6

During my ride this morning, I watched the 1942 classic Holiday Inn, which is particularly notable for its introduction of the song White Christmas, which Irving Berlin wrote expressly for the movie.

This gave me a ride of 19.7 virtual miles in 1:41.


Sunday, 12/31/2023

2023 Mileage: 5036.3 Closing the books on 2023 today, I rode this afternoon while watching Solaris again as I did yesterday. It is a most un...