Attention Car Lovers: The Chicago Auto Show is in Town

I don't discriminate. I like them in all shapes and sizes, and I'm willing to sit in all of their laps. Some are big, some are small. Some are wide, some are narrow. Some are black, some are redbones. They all have a beautiful aroma, and I like to spend Valentine's Day with them. Of course I'm talking about the automobiles at the Chicago Auto Show!

Do you remember the days of playing the childhood game "That's my car"? I never quite grew out of that game, and for the past two years, I've played "That's my car" at McCormick Center on February 14. Suzuki. Dodge. Jeep. Chrysler. Toyota. Ford. Hyundai. GMC. Chevy. Lincoln. Lexus. Audi. Kia. Mitsubishi. Pontiac. Saturn. Buick. Hummer. Infinity. BMW. Jaguar. Rolls Royce. Bentley. Spyker. You name the car make and model, and the Chicago Auto Show probably has it.

The last concept car that truly wowed me was the Dodge Challenger in 2008, a car that looked like it should roar at you just from looking at it too long. But this year, it was the 2010 Lincoln MKT that was posted up on a wall sideways so you were facing the top of the car. This car is so bad that it parks itself. Don't like parallel parking? Nothing but a thing.

The Chicago Auto Show at the McCormick center takes up a great deal of Level 2 and is spread out wide with cars, motorcycles, trucks, and jeeps that you have enough room to climb from one to the next without bumping doors. It's kid friendly and has plenty of folks snapping shots of themselves on motorcycles (hello, Suzuki). The last time I came to the auto show, I got in trouble. I got a coupon to test drive a Suzuki and get a $50 gas card. I got the gas card...and a new car to go with it because I couldn't leave the dealership without it. And although I love my car, I'm looking for a hybrid because I am all about being environmentally friendly. And the hybrids are looking far better and less like spaceships the more popular they get.

Automobiles galore can be found on the cars at the Chicago Auto Show. Celebrities drop by too. I met Chicago Bear's Jason McKie while he signed autographs on bright red Toyota bags and talked about the Jason McKie Foundation of the Institute for Science and Health, and a bowling tournament his foundation will have to benefit military families in May of this year. Check http://www.jasonmckie.org/foundation.htm for details. WWE's Victoria and her Black Widow Chrysler had a major line along with baseball player Ryne Sandberg by the State Farm display.

Don't forget about the food, everything from fudge to pizza to hamburgers to chips to salads. Even a vegetarian can get full at the Chicago Auto Show. The area is handicapped accessible and bathrooms are clean.

And if you feel like you can eat at home, watch celebrities on television, and look at cars on the Internet, you might want to check out Chicago's Auto Show for tips and accessories on making your own car more convenient.

Examples include the following.

First Aid Kit: Although you can buy one of these at a retail store, so many people forget to keep one in their cars.

Portable Navigation: If you're so used to getting lost that it's almost normal, this might be the perfect toy to have in your car to give you directions.

Cargo Tray: This tray protects the original carpeting, and it's good to have if you're a regular traveler with messy kids. The same goes for the cargo organizer, cargo nets, and all-season floor mats.

Skylight shade screen: Having a sunroof may seem like a cool idea, but if the sun is beaming down on you and blocking your view, this might be a valuable investment.

Fog lights: Considering I spent two years in Marquette, Michigan with fierce winters, these types of lights are almost necessary for brutal Midwestern winters.

Auto Day/Night Mirror with compass: I never quite mastered that whole north, south, east, west direction deal when it comes to directions. Hence the reason why I'm always lost, so this is a good toy to have in your car when traveling long distance.

Rear view camera and back-up sensors: I tested these sensors out when completing an interview at Grossinger dealership in Lincolnwood, IL on a GMC Yukon SUV. The noise is not annoying, and for those of you who suck at parking or really don't take that "closer than they appear" warning from side mirrors seriously, this may be necessary for you.

Full nose mask: One thing I miss about my '91 Plymouth Sundance was the rubber bumper because once when there was an ice accident, I hit a street pole, and my car bounced right off of it. Not even a scratch was left. But somebody bumped into my 2007 Suzuki Forenza and left a great big scratch on the front bumper. Of course I had car polish handy and fixed it up, but really, who keeps that just lying around? This is why I appreciate those added accessories like that mask. This also helps the car to be protected from loose rocks, pebbles, insects, and road debris.

Car cover: Only car lovers who adore their paint jobs would go this far, and considering I get my car washed weekly at a minimum but am forced to park outside, I'll probably invest in this one.

Cargo net: These are bed-mounted and help to secure different shapes and sizes from shifting while driving. Cargo nets are useful for college students who travel back and forth from home, especially if they own pick-up trucks. Or, consider the hard Tonneau cover with the lock, which also protects precious items in the back of a truck. The only problem with the lock covers are that the items must be able to lie down or not be too tall, otherwise, the cover can't be used.

DVD Based i-VES and iPod chargers: I guess it depends on the neighborhood you live in, but I'd never get one of these no matter how safe I felt. There's something about a DVD player in a car that makes me think "Steal me." To me, it's about like having an open suitcase of cash. You'd have to be careful what neighborhoods you drive through with a DVD player built into your backseats. The iPod charger isn't so bad because it's a charger that can be taken off like a cell phone charger, but it may create unnecessary attention if you forget the plug in the car.

Transportation is easily accessible by Chicago Transit Authority buses and Red Line trains, although you may have to walk a few blocks if you take the train. Have fun and be careful with the coupons. You may end up with a new car when you only came in for a test drive on the ramp. The Chicago Auto Show runs from February 13-February 22.