I can't seem to figure out how to get my express server to run a simple function when the server starts up. Where is the appropriate place to call a function to run on server startup, and the proper syntax?

I have the function in my routes file as exports.myFunction = function() { code here};

I've tried sticking it in the app.configure block as routes.myFunction. I've tried changing it in routes to just be myfunction() { code}, then calling it in the configure block as routes.myfunction(), no luck there either. The function needs to stay in the file containing my routes since it alters some global variables there.

I know it's some stupidly simple syntax thing, but I can't seem to find any hints here or on google. Much thanks for any help!