So sorry for your situation, Ely! I guess you pretty much have to "play the game" of keeping your mouth shut to keep some jobs. That having been said, I admire your honesty! Have you applied for unemployment? If you are denied, you can appeal via personal letter, if you can provide a viable reason why the job loss was not your fault. I had success with that when I was fired from a position for emotional difficulties that kept me from performing well. I wrote that, well, they shouldn't have hired me, since I had had no prior experience with that type of work! I know that this is well " beneath" what you are accustomed to, but you could supplement that $1400 by house cleaning, home repairs, or dog walking. Post ad at Senior Citizens, where they have people who need such help. I appreciate and mourn with you about needing to keep your pets with you. I would feel the same way. Do you have friends who could keep them until you can regain your footing. You sound like someone who doesn't have much trouble GETTING a job, so your interview should go well. You might want to mail or fax a resume and letter prior to spending the money for air fare, following up with a call, explaining that the trip will be somewhat of a hardship and that you hope they are leaning toward hiring you, pending interview, before you make the trip. Best of luck!