Google's Gone Downhill?

So, I use Google, and in particular the Google Toolbar, at least 100 times a day, maybe up to 200 times.  I depend on its performance in my professional life, and if its offline then that's like stealing the Broad-axe from a Viking warrior, or cutting Samson's hair. And as of about two or three months ago its all turned to crap.  Google searches hang forever (5 minutes sometimes), and they make all other windows impossible to work in while they're hanging. 

I'm using 8.0 at home and at work. What's going on?  I'm tempted to start searching through yahoo.  Does webcrawler still exist?