@sourpussoctopus = pack as light as possible. once you're at whatever your home base will be, take a few minutes to study a map and get familiarized with your geography, landmarks, eateries, pubs, etc.
sleep on it now. just don't let whatever is stuck to it in the morning pull off/out any of the scabbing. soak it just long enough for the cloth or bandage to fall away.
welcome!
I can't assist with tagaderm questions, and the forum is kind of quiet for the holidays - but if you got it done 5 days ago you don't need to do anything else with it at all.
no problem posting names and/or portfolios.
be patient. find the artist/style that you'll be proud to wear FOREVER, and work toward that goal. Visit the shop personally if at all logistically possible.
also in Austin = Jeff Ensminger
Your options are going to ultimately depend on what kind of art you want to wear. Austin has a great variety of american traditional, japanese traditional, neo of both, black/grey pattern and dot-work, and realistic/portrait. You're in a good spot.
A good tattooer might be reluctant to just put something/anything on you for obvious reasons. You might not be happy with the decision 6 months from now. Find at least an idea or image that rings true with you.
looks manageable to me - but ultimately you'll need to discuss the details with your artist.
Learning how to pick an artist is a more important question. there are loads of threads in this forum with that objective in mind.