# File lib/enumerated_attribute/integrations/active_record.rb, line 24
                        def read_enumerated_attribute(name)
                                name = name.to_s
                                #if not enumerated - let active record handle it
                                return read_attribute(name) unless self.class.has_enumerated_attribute?(name)
                                #if enumerated, is it an active record attribute, if not, the value is stored in an instance variable
                                name_sym = name.to_sym
                                return instance_variable_get('@'+name) unless self.has_attribute?(name)
                                #this is an enumerated active record attribute
                                val = read_attribute(name)
                                val = val.to_sym if !!val
                                val
                        end