It’s been a busy week, but it appears the ducks who live on the Capitol grounds haven’t yet gotten the memo.

Two ducks were either practicing “synchronized duck diving” or “bipartisan water ballet,” in the Capitol Reflecting Pool on Monday, a Heard on the Hill reader said.

Or they might just be ducking fallout from the latest firestorm on the Hill.

Meanwhile, inside the Capitol …

Ben Franklin looked particularly pensive on Wednesday, covered in a plastic sheet.

ICYMI, the statue was covered for its protection like all artwork located in the corridors and grand stairwells of the Capitol during the testing of a new smoke control system. The testing will take place only when the Senate and House are not in session.

Holmes Norton wants National Arboretum to apologize

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., sent a letter to the National Arboretum on Tuesday calling for a training plan for staff and volunteers after parents at D.C. Two Rivers Public Charter School claim that on a field trip, security guards were overly aggressive with the kids, DCist reported. On May 1, the first graders on the trip were playing around a picnic table when one staffer yelled at them and called for an armed security guard to help her.

Spotted

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was spotted having lunch at The Oval Room, the popular restaurant for meetings right by the White House, on Wednesday.  HOH was told that he arrived at 11:30 a.m. along with another man and was wearing a blue suit.  Nobody asked for photos.  

Building connections put on hold

A lot of things on Capitol Hill were shuffled due to the news of James B. Comey’s firing as FBI director. Perhaps the saddest, though, was the Senate Aging Committee canceling its hearing entitled, “Aging With Community: Building Connections that Last a Lifetime,” which was scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Why Silicon Valley needs D.C. folks

Trey Ditto, the owner of Ditto PR, a communications company based in Brooklyn, New York, wrote a response to the Los Angeles Times’ article, “Silicon Valley is officially a retirement community for D.C. Vets,” explaining why Bay Area companies actually could use some D.C. people. “It’s no surprise D.C. people are flourishing,” he writes. Check it out here.

Happy Birthday to …

Rep. David Young, R-Iowa, 49.

What’s going on?

Have any tips, announcements or Hill happenings? Send them to AlexGangitano@cqrollcall.com.