Pop-up reminder when monitor off?

Probably a case of wanting my cake and eating it too, but: With Thunderbird's Lightning calendar program, I can get pop-up reminders of appointments on my laptop screen (Vista Home). But I like having the monitor turn off after a certain amount of inactivity (mine's set for 10 minutes). I also have the computer set to go into Sleep mode after 10 minutes. Whereupon, although the pop-up reminders arrive, they don't do me any good because I can't see them until I reactivate the monitor. Could I possibly set it so that when a pop-up reminder arrives, it automatically turns on the monitor? Or is there any other way that I can have my cake and eat it too? Thanks.

 

I don't use thunderbird, I have a idea that might help if thunderbird is capable (I would imagine so.) Can you set the reminder to also play a sound? Then you would just leave your speakers on, unless they are built into the monitor. The part about waking from sleep when a reminder arrives. I don't see how that can be done unless someone else knows. I don't know if programs can mimic an actual keystroke or mouse movement, no I take that back, I have seen a program what will move the mouse when started so I think maybe it is possible. Then again I don't know what the computer uses to wake up, is it a 'true' signal from the keyboard or mouse or maybe else where down the line that is generated internally.

I am just thinking to much...