A few early-birds will trickle into DC this Wednesday when the faintest scent of leather accoutrement and cock rings are detected by curiously aroused TSA agents.  Traveler destination: DCA, IAD and BWI for MAL.  On Thursday, more early-birds arrive and it will be impossible to miss or ignore the palatable energy that signals the approaching countdown and commencement of 2014 Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend.  Finally, on Friday, January 17, the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill will teem with both MAL veterans – those who have attended the event for a number of years – and several hundred MAL virgins who by all accounts are filled with (I can see you shiver with antici — “say it!”) ….pation.  #MAL2014 emails, tweets and Facebook posts confirm #MAL2014 is a source of much excitement and chatter among many weekend virgins and most striking are the sheer volume of questions about the event itself.  “Where to go?  What to do?  Who to do?”  Not surprisingly, cadres of selfless, noble MAL veterans have placed themselves front and center responding to a large percentage of virgin inquiries.  Moreover, weekend veterans exemplify the altruistic nature of the leather community that is again proven unparalleled.  It is expected that over the next few days MAL veterans will increase all efforts that serve to confirm that for every single virgin in attendance, there are a minimum of two experienced hands waiting to welcome him, or her.   It is worth noting that friendly couples are in many cases, offering more than the minimum.