gistfile1.txt

ruby-1.9.2-p180 :007 > AdminUser.where(:id => 1).class
 => ActiveRecord::Relation 
ruby-1.9.2-p180 :008 > AdminUser.where(:id => 1).first.class
  AdminUser Load (0.2ms)  SELECT "admin_users".* FROM "admin_users" WHERE "admin_users"."id" = 1 LIMIT 1
 => AdminUser(id: integer, email: string, encrypted_password: string, reset_password_token: string, reset_password_sent_at: datetime, remember_created_at: datetime, sign_in_count: integer, current_sign_in_at: datetime, last_sign_in_at: datetime, current_sign_in_ip: string, last_sign_in_ip: string, created_at: datetime, updated_at: datetime) 
ruby-1.9.2-p180 :009 > AdminUser.limit(1).class
 => ActiveRecord::Relation