EndNote X1 with Word 2004 Mac: references freeze and go nuts during edit, and save is very slow

I’m using EndNote X1 with Word 2004 Mac. Often, when editing my references, EndNote freezes, will not save, the buttons at the top of the reference window go nuts and start displaying fields not their own, I can’t place the cursor in particular fields, and the reference window will not close. Also, I’ve had a lot of problems with the reference taking a really long time to save – sometimes up to a minute. What is causing these interesting behaviors and how can I keep them from happening?

An example of the how the buttons go nuts: The button that should close the reference window suddenly becomes the reference choice menu, making it impossible to close the window. Instead, I have to quit the program.