And now for something completely different…

Over the last few months I have been focusing my writing energies on, well, not writing at all. It seems, ladies and gentlemen, that yours truly has been at a loss for words. Not sure if it is because of the awful start the Sox got off to in March or it was because the final twoHEDGEAnswers sessions of the 2010-2011 season were jam-packed with information about what is going on in the hedge funds industry, but, man, I have been in a writing funk for the last twelve weeks or so.

Well, the funk has lifted… but I have decided for the time being not to write about the economy, politics or hedge funds (Stay tuned: This will probably change soon) and instead provide you with commentary and observations.

Many of you have said that you enjoyed my comments in theThings That Drive Me Crazy section of past posts. Well, if you liked them then, you’ll love what’s coming today and in the next weeks and months.

As for what is driving me crazy today – it is the simple acts of kindness that many people seem to forget or overlook. Today I witnessed two such things, one of which affected me directly; the other not so much. The first was as I was walking up the escalator in Penn Station, a woman tripped, three people reached out to grab her and make sure she was OK. It was nice to see people trying to help out a fellow commuter.

The second was at the dry cleaner on the corner of 57th and Sixth. The button on my suit jacket came off – too much friction – and when I asked the woman what it would cost to sew it back on, she told me that her tailor would do it for no charge. Had I been in Fanwood, at the regular cleaner, it would have cost me five bucks – and taken a day or two.

Enjoy the heat – stay in the shade and drink lots of fluids. And remember: If you see someone falling, try to help them up!