So as a general fact, and my friends can attest — I believe that you should always have at least three crushes in your life. You don’t have to pursue them anymore than that. The beauty of the human race is that you can crush. You can flirt. You can obsess about strangers and they will never know. I love it.

Now a good crush, can be just that – crushing if you let it. So here are a few safety reminders about building a good crush.

1. Pick someone you don’t have much chance with in the future. They should be actually be “ineligible” because they have their own talk show (see below) or they are a fellow teacher who only wants to marry someone who is Greek – and you, unfortunately are not Greek. Maybe they are already married or gay or live on a small island in the Indian Ocean (again see below). Anything that keeps them off limits enough to be nothing but guilty fun.

2. Only act in your mind. True emotions and true connection are over-rated.

3. Your crush is probably a jerk in real life – just like the rest of them.  So keep him a stranger on the bus, or behind the counter at the coffee shop – it’s way better.

4. Enjoy the sensation just for love’s sake. In so many of my relationships I asked the hideous girl question – “Where is this going?” You know the answer with crushes: Nowhere. So just enjoy the blush and the rush.

Now, that I’ve outlined a few helpful hints. Let’s get to why I started this blog entry. I want to tell you about men I’m loving right now. Most of these men below are, I believe, standard American girl crushes. I’m not trying to be edgy here. I assume most women will read this list and go “oh, yeah! I love him!” In no particular order. . .

Ricky Gervais:

I know I’m not the only one since The Ricky Gervais podcast made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. So there are more than 4 million fans and all. I don’t know if it just their British accents or their merciless taunting of Carl, but I’m hooked. I heard the first podcast on a plane, and laughed out loud waking the woman next to me.

You might know Ricky from his work on The Office. The original Office, not the NBC “The Office” spin off (which is also funny.) I love Steve Carell. Sorry, I gotta stay focused. And now it is a snowball effect. I think of Steve Carell. I think of the Daily Show – one of my favorites. Then I think of John Stewart.

John Stewart

Yummy, yummy, yummy. I got love in my tummy. I must just say for the record – I LOVE JOHN STEWART. He has the perfect balance of humor and political awareness. I’m not the only one who loves him. Cold sarcasm is the ultimate aphrodisiac.

Nate Berkus

Now here is a perfect example of a great crush. He is completely sexy, a decorator for Christ sake, and Gay as the day is long (pardon the pun). So he is totally untouchable. Perfect. So perfect even Oprah can’t resist him. I can drool in private and never have to complain to him that we never talk anymore.

Ben Folds

It’s the Clark Kent vs. Superman scenario. He is completely like a guy you would meet a college party that studies film and listens to Tom Waits. He’s cool, but he is not what you would want at the time because you are obsessed with a jerk who never calls. Then he sits down at the piano – Bingo – he’s the man of steel.

Mark Ruffalo

Ever since You Can Count On Me. I’ve been a big fan. He has a deep brooding sex appeal of a man that will never commit — so of course, he’s dreamy to me. Now, occasionally he goes kind of corny with the romantic comedy. I haven’t actually seen this movie, so it is wrong for me to criticize. Regardless, he’s magnetic — you can’t argue with that!

Mathieu Razanzkolona

He is an Olympic Athlete for Madagascar in the Winter Olympics. His events are Men’s Slalom and Giant Slalom. Cute as buttons. You gotta love the underdog.

I could go on and on about my crushes, but I’ll save that for another time. Find someone fun. Someone who makes you smile. Someone who holds the hope of love, and makes you feel irresistible – because you are!!!!

Happy crushing.