Returns a single record for the RecordCollection, or `default`. If
        `default` is an instance or subclass of Exception, then raise it
        instead of returning it.

def first(self, default=None, as_dict=False, as_ordereddict=False):
        """Returns a single record for the RecordCollection, or `default`. If
        `default` is an instance or subclass of Exception, then raise it
        instead of returning it."""

        # Try to get a record, or return/raise default.
        try:
            record = self[0]
        except IndexError:
            if isexception(default):
                raise default
            return default

        # Cast and return.
        if as_dict:
            return record.as_dict()
        elif as_ordereddict:
            return record.as_dict(ordered=True)
        else:
            return record