github_status.js

var request = require('request')
growl = require('growl');

var interval;
var makeRequest = function () {
  request.get(
    'https://status.github.com/api/status.json',
    function (error, response, body) {
      var json;
      if (!error && response.statusCode == 200) {
        json = JSON.parse(body);
        if (json.status === 'good') {
          growl(
            'ITS BACK!', {
              image: '/Users/joshvermaire/Desktop/imgres.jpeg',
              title: "Github Status",
              sticky: true
            }
          );
          clearInterval(interval);
        }
      }
    }
  );
}

interval = setInterval(makeRequest, 30000);