I always think it’s so funny when I realize I have a crush on someone. I think, wow, this person is a dreamboat, I think I could spend the rest of my life with him. Picturing our children, if I’m going to get along with his parents — the basic ingredients to crushes on boys.

I remember one of my first crushes. He was tall, dark and handsome. He sang with his brother and three other guys – it was Jonathan Knight, the older and more mature one, from New Kids on the Block. I call him mature because first of all, he was the oldest and second of all, he did not have the rat tail — he could spot a fashion faux pas from a mile away, he was wise beyond his years.

I had the biography, the doll and the bed sheets. On the pillowcase, Joey and Danny were on one side and on the others were Jonathan, Jordan and Donnie. I ALWAYS made sure that Jonathan was on my side, touching my cheek. I would even risk having the rebel Donnie’s picture touch my young face on that side of the pillow. The things you’ll do for love.

That was probably where my kosher crushes ended. I spread my wings further than Tiger Beat magazine and started looking at personality rather than bubble gum looks.

In high school I had the biggest crush on Brookline native Conan O’Brien. I went about my crush the same way as any other maturing girl. I cut out pictures and put them on my wall, I dreamed of the day we would meet, the whole gamut.

To this day I still have a little love in my heart for the tall, pale and red-headed talk show host, a far cry from my days of loving Jonathan Knight.

Another crush was Kevin Spacey. I think it started with “The Usual Suspects” because he was mysterious and witty. Other movies such as “Swimming with Sharks,” “American Beauty,” “L.A. Confidential” and “Seven” encouraged my feelings because my “boy” had talent.

You can imagine my excitement when Mr. Spacey came to campus to promote his new movie, “The Life of David Gale.” I called the public relations company in Boston who was responsible for the promotion and requested an interview.

I got to meet one of my super famous crushes face to face at the Ritz Carlton in downtown for a 15 minute interview for The News. I was so nervous I thought I was going to urinate on myself. My voice and palms were shaky, but I made it through the questions and even made him laugh a few times. And, the best part, he touched me three times — nothing ground shaking or scandalous, I assure you.

Recently, I fell in mock-love with the Oscar winner for best actor, Adrien Brody. I had seen “The Pianist” a few weeks before the awards ceremony and I liked him from the start. His face is very defined and he seems very down to earth.

One of those boys that makes you say, “There’s just something about him.” The crush wasn’t long-lived because I have an Adrien Brody of my own, my boyfriend. He’s tall and thin like Adrien, he’s even from Queens, like the actor. He has more personality than I think I deserve, and I think he’s the reason why I was attracted to Adrien to start with, I saw the similarities.

Anyhow, my point is that those crushes aren’t real, but it’s not impossible to find that “someone” in your life, that you’ve imagined in your dreams.

While in the past I have stood by my disagreement with reality marriage shows, I suppose I can sympathize with the contestants vying for a husband ABC executives feel more than one person can fall in love with.

For someone like me who has had these sorts of crushes in the past, like most women, might find it hard to resist someone nearly flawless and in the right studio light. So, in some aspect I understand, but don’t lose hope in finding your Evan Marriott or Andrew Firestone on the street.

— Send comments to Lauren Rouleau at [email protected]