[ale] VM load average stays around 4.5 and jumps as high as 8 or 9

[lists at serioustechnology.com (Geoffrey Myers)]

So, I've got a Centos VM that is installed on Mac.  I had a Mac OSX 
update and a gcc update on the VM.

Now my load average sits at 4.5 and every now and then jumps to 8 or 9. 
  when it does that, the VM freezes until it drops back down.

Any clues as to what is causing this?  I'm sure the gcc is not an issue. 
  Do I need to reinstall virtual box?


-- 
Until later, Geoffrey

"I predict future happiness for America if they can prevent
the government from wasting the labors of the people under
the pretense of taking care of them."
- Thomas Jefferson