def _init_repo(self):
        """ create and initialize a new Git Repo """
        log.debug("initializing new Git Repo: {0}".format(self._engine_path))
        if os.path.exists(self._engine_path):
            log.error("Path already exists! Aborting!")
            raise RuntimeError
        else:
            # create the repo if it doesn't already exist
            _logg_repo = git.Repo.init(path=self._engine_path, mkdir=True)
            record = "idid Logg repo initialized on {0}".format(today())
            c = _logg_repo.index.commit(record)
            assert c.type == 'commit'
            log.info('Created git repo [{0}]'.format(self._engine_path))
        return _logg_repo
create and initialize a new Git Repo