Quick measurment tool don't work

[LIMGYEE]

usually, I use the measuregeom tool to measure the length/distance quickly.

like this

But I don't know why quick measurements don't work today.  I have to pick the option first, then select the base point to get the measure.  

[pendean]

Rotated UCS? Look at your cursor, there is a question mark, commandline probably says something about that too (make sure it is 3-5-10 line tall for now).

[Kent1Cooper]

It remembers the last measurement mode you used, and starts with that.  You must have just gotten into the Diestance option somehow.  Pick the little pulldown and choose Quick again: