Barely Won, Most Drawish

15.Qxf7#  You got lucky.  Let's put that aside and focus on big picture chess tactics.

I like the fact you immediately try to control the center.  However, moving your knight twice right in the beginning is in general not a great tactic.  Knights don't need to be in the center of the board in order to control center.  Nor should they be placed on the A or H file to start out with.  Nc6 would have blocked the Queen attack you worried about, allowing you to Bg4.  8.c6 is a bad move for you (and for me, too)  It's essentially the Semi-Slav and it encases your White Bishop behind immobile pawns.  Moving your white bishop to a square that is A) unprotected by a pawn or Knight and B) does not put another minor piece in immediate danger is not a good idea.  Be6 in this case until either condition is met.  Moving to the middle game.  I like the fact you put your rook on c-file, in line for his king.  Move 25: In most cases, when a minor piece is under direct assult from a pawn, it is not a good idea to check with a second piece.  Later on, his uncheck will be a minor piece bringing another attack on your second piece forcing you to choose one piece to save.  Don't sac a rook for a Knight unless you gain a distinct positional advantage (you didn't).  35...Rf5+ 36...Rxf2  look for situations like these.

Several times you refer to swapping minor pieces as drawish play.  Swapping equal pieces in equal position is not drawish play.  It's Simplification.  It moves the game along.  Drawish play is when you fail to engage the enemy.  By avoiding swapping knights and bishops and instead running, you allow the enemy to gain ground.  Swapping is a little more compicated than this at a higher level (a pair of bishops is stronger than one of each, keep the same colored bishop your enemy has, ect), but for now swap away if it doesn't put you in a compromising situation.

Yeah I tend to dislike simplification because I like big, complex games that eventually make the opponent blunder and when it does I can take advantage of it.

I saw the mate later and I'm happy I was playing someone who didn't see it. If my little tactical trap would've worked that knight would've been worth it, but that didn't happen.

I like you analysis very much.

I was very much surprised that he didn't trade queens when I castled, most people I know probably would've.

I also tend to play without attacking the enemy and just make a good defense that eventually makes the opponent blunder (like I said beforehand).