Since it was your first game, you played very well. To your main question (should I have taken the queen instead of the rook?) the answer is yes.
A queen is worth almost twice as much as a rook, and there was no compelling tactical reason why you shouldn't take the queen (your rook was protected by the bishop on b3).
Keep an eye out for possible tactics. For example, 25. Rd8+ 25... Rxd8 26.Rxd8+ 26... Kg7 27. Bd4
Actually, it would be better for black to play, after 25.Rd8+, 25... Qe8 26. Rxe8 26... Rxe8
Since it was your first game, you played very well. To your main question (should I have taken the queen instead of the rook?) the answer is yes.
A queen is worth almost twice as much as a rook, and there was no compelling tactical reason why you shouldn't take the queen (your rook was protected by the bishop on b3).
wow. i didnt realize my rook was protected until you pointed it out. :shakes head:
Well, you played pretty well! To your question, you should have taken the queen as it's stronger than a rook. Also you should have taken his rook before checkamte. Don't worry, you did well! If you want to improve join my group!
http://www.chess.com/groups/home/kiesh-friendship-club
We have daily puzzles and mentoring, also matches!
KIESH2
definitely should have taken the queen! Besides taking the rook instead of the queen i think you still are winning the game besides this mistake! With accurate play you should have won with all your minor pieces against his queen
From the looks of this game, it seems like you are better at recognizing what you can do (taking opponent's pieces) than you are at recognizing what your opponent can do -- a few times you let him take your pieces and in the end checkmate you. Be sure you double check your move by putting yourself in your opponent's shoes and consider what they might play. Always expect they will play the best move available to them.
The fact that you never saw the checkmate coming is telling. The queen and rook were lined up on g2 together as early as move 27. The only reason he can't checkmate yo on move 29 is that your bishop is defending. Of course, taking the rook on move 33 would have left you doing just fine.
Don't feel too bad about letting a winning game slip at the end, it happens to everybody, check this one out:
http://blog.chess.com/Loomis/ultimate-blunders
You missed a beautiful tactic that would have teleported you to a completely won game. I was pretty happy to see it myself too. 
if you are referring to what alabastercrashes pointed out i do 
it is a great move. now if only i can figure out how to get back there....
if you are referring to what alabastercrashes pointed out i do
it is a great move. now if only i can figure out how to get back there....
I didnt see your comments at first. Thank you very much. The incite truly helps me.
This was my first "real" game and I blew it hard at the end when I thought I was going to win for sure.
I thought I was going pretty well. Should I have taken the queen on move 20 instead of the rook?
What should I have done differently?