great comments.  thanks oldchessdog.  that would have been a much smarter continuation...I wasn't looking at my opponent's threats at all.  It's a weakness I have - forgetting the opponent can slip into an opportunity.  It's a personality glitch. 

You're winning for sure, actually, until you played Bxa6. Here's a couple lines:

"This is when I realized I'm an idiot and started shaking like a baby, holding myself, trembling."

Beautiful game! Sharp as a tack! But there doesn't appear to be anything to worry about on move 17. A calm c3, and black's fortunes are reversed. He has a little initiative, but not much else.

it happens to me more often than i'd like too.

yes, i know the feeling, but......

"lo bueno, si breve, dos veces bueno; lo malo, si poco, no tan malo"

mates of first rank are always painfull but can occur in blitz games !

oh, that's so devastating! was it a blitz game?

18. Qxh7 1-0

thank you batgirl.  that should have been after 18. Bxa6

Anthony, I appreciate you sharing that.  Ouch.  

It happens to us all.

             BANG!

"This is when I realized I'm an idiot and started shaking like a baby, holding myself, trembling."

That comment follows 17 ...Ba6.
I don't understand, since you were completely winning at that point. It's only after the unforced 18. Bxa6 that the game is lost. Good game up till then.