How can I get Memory/CPU stats for the python VM?

[Terrel Shumway]

I am running Python 2.0 on a Linux box that has an protected /proc/.

How can I find out how big the python process is and how much CPU time
it is taking?

The profile module is not enough:
    1) I need to get info from a deployed process (non-debug)
    2) It doesn't  give memory stats

Rebuilding the python interpreter or an extension module *is* feasible.

    TIA,
    -- Terrel