MANITOU SPRINGS, CO -- In a brief moment of honesty with himself and others, Steve "ColoradoGuy" Garufi admitted today that his true motive for coordinating the Adopt-A-Highway Litter Control program was to hopefully help his nonexistent love life.

The Manitou Springs resident revealed that, "I certainly hope I can get a "Friends of ColoradoGuy.com" sign that should be erected any day now on State Highway 24 in Manitou Springs.

Public reaction to Steve's comment has provoked shock and ridicule towards the Manitou Springs resident.

"What you need is a puppy!" exclaimed Hair Consultant Martha, who believes Steve simply needs to be bolder in asking women out whom he is interested in.

"You're just like me ... you're always doing the 'Poor me, I don't have a girlfriend routine." exclaimed Mark O'Shea, a regular patron at Spice of Life Café, whose picture is included in the Mineral Springs walking tour.

With public sentiment bringing much embarrassment and unwanted attention on him, Steve quickly went into "damage mode" with the following statement on the Friendship Board:

"Listen, this Adopt-A-Highway thing is really cool. We get to pick up garbage along the highway, do some fulfilling community service and I get a couple of signs with ColoradoGuy.com on it. Yes, I do admit that deep down inside that I pursued adopting a highway because I thought chicks might be more interested in me, but come on, what's the big deal about this?"

So far, as Steve organizes and coordinates the first event of litter removal scheduled for this Saturday morning (January 17), insiders say he has not gotten any closer to getting a date.

"Maybe this will help if you wanted to go out with a girl who works for a garbage hauling company." wrote Shelley Johnson in an e-mail to Steve, "That could help I guess."

Here's another nice photo of the highway the "Friends of ColoradoGuy.com" have adopted...