CONSOLE YOURSELF WITH SOME COOKWARE

Still reeling from the Mavs’ loss last night? I say gather up all your credit cards, dip into the savings, cash the bonds, and go shopping. (The kids didn’t really need higher education, did they? Street smarts. Yeah — that’s what they need.) There are loads of sales going on right now at all your friendly big-box retailers. Linens n’ Things is having a big white sale. All the Knox Street brethren — Pottery Barn (loads of outdoor entertaining stuff), Restoration Hardware (great patio finds), and Crate & Barrel (dinnerware everywhere) — are practically giving stuff away. And Sur La Table is getting ready for its summer clearance. Their sale starts Friday, June 30. Wow. That should soothe your fractured soul and make you forget all about Dirk. At least until next season.