test.py

import time

from boto.ec2.connection import EC2Connection
from boto import ec2
import spur.ssh
import spur

key = '<your key here>'
secret = '<your secret here>'
instanceId = '<your instance id>'

region = ec2.get_region('us-west-2')
conn = EC2Connection(key, secret, region=region)

reservationList = conn.get_all_instances(instance_ids=[instanceId])
instance = reservationList[0].instances[0]

print(instance.public_dns_name == 'ec2-54-245-51-159.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com')
print('')

def attempt_connection():
    shell = spur.SshShell(
        hostname=instance.public_dns_name, 
        username='tony', 
        private_key_file='/home/tony/.ssh/grosinger-west', 
        missing_host_key=spur.ssh.MissingHostKey.accept
    )

    with shell:
        print shell.run(["echo", "hello"]).output

def can_connect():
    try:
        print "Attempting connection..."
        attempt_connection()
        print "Success!"
        return True
    except spur.ssh.ConnectionError as error:
        print "Failed"
        print error.message
        return False

timeout = 60 # One minute (adjust according to your level of patience)
start_time = time.time()
while not can_connect():
    if time.time() - start_time > timeout:
        raise Exception("I give up!")