log something that happened.  The first time phrase is passed the
        start time is saved.  The second time the phrase is logged, the
        elapsed time is written

        Parameters
        ----------
            phrase : str
                the thing that happened

def log(self,phrase):
        """log something that happened.  The first time phrase is passed the
        start time is saved.  The second time the phrase is logged, the
        elapsed time is written

        Parameters
        ----------
            phrase : str
                the thing that happened
        """
        pass
        t = datetime.now()
        if phrase in self.items.keys():
            s = str(t) + ' finished: ' + str(phrase) + " took: " + \
                str(t - self.items[phrase]) + '\n'
            if self.echo:
                print(s,end='')
            if self.filename:
                self.f.write(s)
                self.f.flush()
            self.items.pop(phrase)
        else:
            s = str(t) + ' starting: ' + str(phrase) + '\n'
            if self.echo:
                print(s,end='')
            if self.filename:
                self.f.write(s)
                self.f.flush()
            self.items[phrase] = copy.deepcopy(t)