First off I would adviSe you to learn the difference between the word adviSe and adviCe. That is my first bit of adviCe.

Seriously though, the CFII MEI is the route I'd take. I would move to be near the busiest flight school in the nation and get hired there. My goal would be to log over 5 hours per day and get in to multi engine instruction ASAP. Preferably this flight school would have some sort of charter department that would give you the opportunity to sit Rt. seat in something larger.

Do this for a year and you will learn more than you ever though possible. By the end of the year you will be ready for your ATP. If you get hired somewhere in the mean time so much the better. If not you will certainly be competitive with the ATP.

If you are not willing to move somewhere to get the experience necessary to get the airline job you want then you are not a good candidate for an airline career because in an airline career, you will move several time before settling down.

Oh, one more thing, 52K a year sucks. We've had this discussion before so there is no need for some of you to chime in on how full of it I am. All I know is anything less than 150k/yr in your 40s and you can plan on having a very meager retirement.