Can no longer save transactions!

[Michael C. Smith]

I'm having a problem with GnuCash 2.2.9 (built from r17949M on 
2010-03-23) running on Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (and up to date with patches).

Starting this afternoon, I can no longer save any new transactions.  I 
can create them in the registers, click "save" (and have the "save" 
progress bar work to completion), but when I go to quit GnuCash, I get a 
warning dialog (with 3 buttons) that I should save my work before 
exiting (or loose the transactions entered over the previous few 
minutes).  When I click "save" in that dialog, it takes a few moments 
and then I'm presented with a two button dialog giving me the choice of 
saving or continuing (and loosing my transactions).  Saving takes a few 
more moments before bringing be back to the two-button dialog.  The only 
way to terminate the "loop" is to chose to loose the transactions.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,

Mike