It seems that my plane had a problem with some form of hydraulic leak.  So they sent for the mechanic from Los Angeles who then need a part from Los Angeles.  As the evening progressed, we learned that all flights had to take off by 11:30 or the airport shuts down.  At 9:30 they said that they were not going to make it.  As a result, I canceled my trip to Salt Lake City.  The highlight of the evening was negotiating for the free dinner coupons (only available for use at the airport) and giving them to an elder couple who were flying standby (who were not entitled to any coupons). 

So instead of Mexican in Salt Lake City, I had salad and mashed potatoes in San Diego.  Finding a hotel and rebooking a new flight is always a joy.

In sum, when a problem develops with traveling on an airline, all bets are off and you have very few options.  Makes for a miserable experience.