first lines meme, again

So the "post the first lines of the stuff you're working on" meme is making the rounds again. Since I'm kinda puttering around with a bunch of unfinished stuff, I thought if I posted I'd start feeling motivated to finish before the next time this comes around and I have to admit I'm still working on some of the same things. Of course, if anyone wants to make a compelling argument to finish (or abandon) any of these, please do...
( first lines... )