Half Baked

[autumnseulogy]

My mother's birthday is today.  I wanted to get her a toaster oven.  Ours is mucho ancient.  Like, vintage Black and Decker Toast-R-Oven, faux wood grain, grease spots, overheating plug, and multi-purpose toaster/baker/reheater/creepy crawler and shrinky-dink maker.  This Toast-R-Oven is the kitchen appliance that got me through it all, the defining characteristic of my childhood.  Aaaaand, it's not in the best of condition visually.  HOWever, it works almost like new, it's just so outdated.  Except, that I looked at the newer Black and Deckers, the "classic" models, and they're all so chintzy.  Shoddy workmanship, flimsy parts, "heat-proof" plastic.  I swear the doors look like they'd fall off if used on a day-to-day basis.  The knobs feel like cheap toys, the hooks on the door that pull out the rack get caught when you try to close the door, and the crumb tray is about as manageable as a sheet of aluminum foil.

Seriously? When did crap get so cheap?

Mommy, I'm buying you scratch-offs instead.  At least they have half a chance.